Container trucks traveling to and from port areas are a major cause of severe traffic congestion in the National Capital Region, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
On Wednesday, July 9, MMDA officials led by Chairman Romando Artes met with officials from Asian Terminals Inc. to discuss solutions for reducing traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
During the meeting, it was highlighted that one of the significant contributors to the traffic issue is the high number of container trucks on the roads.
A potential solution being considered is to transport container trucks, vans, and containerized cargo via barges and vessels to their destinations. A single vessel can carry the equivalent of 10 container vans.
The MMDA also plans to hold a meeting with officials from International Container Terminal Services Inc. to coordinate efforts, as they also operate container yards and ports.
In 2014, the local government of Manila implemented a cargo truck ban to alleviate traffic congestion caused by the heavy flow of trucks and container vans. Initially viewed as a solution, the ban led to complaints and calls for improved traffic management.
The ban resulted in increased congestion on city streets and at the port, with long queues of truck drivers waiting for their turn to enter the city.
This caused delays in goods delivery and led to the accumulation of containers at the port, which further slowed down the logistics chain and increased costs.
The situation prompted a comprehensive study of the logistics industry in the Metro Manila, focusing on other critical issues affecting transport and logistics while formulating appropriate policy responses.
The goal of the study is to understand the broader implications of the cargo truck ban on transport and logistics.
