CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda has prohibited the entry
and passage of overloaded vehicles in Pampanga as he urged national
government agencies to step up the enforcement of the Anti-Overloading Act in
order to protect roads and bridges in the province.
The governor has requested the Department of Public Works and Highways and
the Department of Transportation as well as their allied agencies like the Land
Transportation Office and the police’s Highway Patrol Group to strictly enforce RA
8794 or the Anti-Overloading Law of 2000.
Known as “An Act Imposing a Motor Vehicle Users Charge on Owners of all Types
of Motor Vehicle and for Other Purposes,” the law promotes motorist safety and
prevents early deterioration of roads caused by overloading.
Parts of Pampanga are being used as alternate routes as the NLEX Corp. enforced
the 33-ton weight limit along the Candaba Viaduct since Aug. 1 while doing urgent
repairs on it.
In a meeting on Tuesday, Governor Pineda said it was “high-time” to act together
because the DPWH and local governments continue to allot funds for public
infrastructures that are damaged in large parts by vehicles that carry loads
beyond the allowable limits.
“Ang laki na ng mga damages sa province. Sobra na po ‘yung laki ng mga truck na
dumadaan po sa atin. Mapapansin niyo po yung mga national roads even sa
Porac, yearly na lang binibigyan ng DPWH ng pondo para sa rehabiliatation. Halos
one to two years lang wasak na agad.Yung mga motorista naiistorbo, [nagiging]
cause ng traffic, [nagiging] cause ng accident dahil sira-sira yung mga daan kaya
kami sa provincial government, nakipag-usap kami sa mga operators. Nagkasundo
na po kami ng mga truckers na iimplement na po ‘yung batas,” Pineda explained.
Beginning Aug. 2 when the governor suspended quarry operations for 15 days,
truckers and haulers have voluntarily cut the sidings of their trucks to comply with
the 33-ton weight limit imposed by NLEx Corp. on the Candaba Viaduct.
As of August 9, at least 1,000 trucks have been cut to the heights and lengths
allowed per vehicle category, according to KALAM (Kapampangan a Lulugud at
Matapat).
To regulate vehicles, Pineda said the provincial government will issue new hauling
passes to vehicle owners who comply with guidelines imposed by the local
government units in coordination with partner agencies.
Violators face a year of hauling suspension, he warned.
“Sana maintindihan niyo po kami. Alam ko po na medyo tataas yung presyo sa
Metro Manila. Puwede pong bumaba ‘yung income ng probinsya, pero kung
pababayaan ko po ito, ‘yung resources naman po ng national government at
perwisyo po na naibibigay sa mga taga- Pampanga, papaano naman po? We need
to sacrifice in the province. Huwag po natin hayaan tuluyang masira ang mga daan
at tulay natin, mas malaki pong damage ang ibibigay po sa ating ekonomiya kapag
nasira po ang mga iyan,” he explained.
Engr. Rodolfo David, chief of the maintenance division of the DPWH in Central
Luzon, thanked the governor for his initiative.
“Mapapangalagaan na natin ang mga kalsada at national roads para lalong
tumagal at maging mas convenient para sa mga road users natin,” David said.
