Expressway execs condemn rallyists for 'mob mentality'
By Marna H. Dagumboy, Sun Star
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Officials of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) recently condemned protesters for their "mob mentality" in their demand to freeze the Anti-Overloading Law.
This, after well-meaning leaders made an observation in accordance to the radical protest action at the NLEx premises allegedly staged by certain people with vested interests in their demand to freeze of the said law.
Meanwhile, the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) appealed for sobriety among the protesting truckers in order to share common concern for the greater welfare of our people.
In a related development, Transportation Undersecretary Ricky Alfonso defended the NLEx ban on overloaded trucks, adding that since last year, the DOT has forewarned them already.
"We are being laughed at by the international community because we are not implementing our own laws on overloading," the official said in an early interview.
"While the government and MNTC are not defenseless should our offer for peace is spurned, we still believe that genuine dialogue will continue to make winners of us all. Let's keep our expressway and other streets free from harm and mischief," Marlene Ochoa, MNTC director for communications, stressed.
Ochoa said the rallyists used trucks and other vehicles as their means to block some entry and exit points of the NLEx, which caused monstrous traffic jams in several areas.
"We deeply regret the precipitate action of an association of truck drivers to block and slow down traffic leading to the new NLEx in their attempt to force the hand of government to suspend the Anti-Overloading Law," Ochoa said.
Safety and anti-overloading advocates described the protest action as a "desperate attempt" to force the government to suspend implementation of Republic Act 8794 commonly known as the Motor Vehicle Users' Charge (MVUC) Law.
On the other hand, lawyer-advocate Rafael dela Torre viewed the barricades as a "senseless and condemnable machination being employed by those opposing strict enforcement of the anti-overloading law."
"It is about time for the authorities to crack the whip and compel this recalcitrant mob to adhere to the rule of law. It is bad enough that they are endangering public safety and welfare by demanding that they be allowed to flagrantly violate the Anti-Overloading Law," dela Torre said.
"This latest ploy to promote their selfish motives at the expense of public safety is even worse. This is tantamount to terrorism and economic sabotage which must not be left unchecked by the authorities," he added.
He said enforcement of the laws "is a State commitment beyond lip service because this is a serious matter, short of being a life-and-death issue."
Enacted in 2000, RA 8794 sets a load limit of 13,500 kilograms per axle as stipulated by the MVUC, reputedly the highest load limit in the world.
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Officials of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) recently condemned protesters for their "mob mentality" in their demand to freeze the Anti-Overloading Law.
This, after well-meaning leaders made an observation in accordance to the radical protest action at the NLEx premises allegedly staged by certain people with vested interests in their demand to freeze of the said law.
Meanwhile, the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) appealed for sobriety among the protesting truckers in order to share common concern for the greater welfare of our people.
In a related development, Transportation Undersecretary Ricky Alfonso defended the NLEx ban on overloaded trucks, adding that since last year, the DOT has forewarned them already.
"We are being laughed at by the international community because we are not implementing our own laws on overloading," the official said in an early interview.
"While the government and MNTC are not defenseless should our offer for peace is spurned, we still believe that genuine dialogue will continue to make winners of us all. Let's keep our expressway and other streets free from harm and mischief," Marlene Ochoa, MNTC director for communications, stressed.
Ochoa said the rallyists used trucks and other vehicles as their means to block some entry and exit points of the NLEx, which caused monstrous traffic jams in several areas.
"We deeply regret the precipitate action of an association of truck drivers to block and slow down traffic leading to the new NLEx in their attempt to force the hand of government to suspend the Anti-Overloading Law," Ochoa said.
Safety and anti-overloading advocates described the protest action as a "desperate attempt" to force the government to suspend implementation of Republic Act 8794 commonly known as the Motor Vehicle Users' Charge (MVUC) Law.
On the other hand, lawyer-advocate Rafael dela Torre viewed the barricades as a "senseless and condemnable machination being employed by those opposing strict enforcement of the anti-overloading law."
"It is about time for the authorities to crack the whip and compel this recalcitrant mob to adhere to the rule of law. It is bad enough that they are endangering public safety and welfare by demanding that they be allowed to flagrantly violate the Anti-Overloading Law," dela Torre said.
"This latest ploy to promote their selfish motives at the expense of public safety is even worse. This is tantamount to terrorism and economic sabotage which must not be left unchecked by the authorities," he added.
He said enforcement of the laws "is a State commitment beyond lip service because this is a serious matter, short of being a life-and-death issue."
Enacted in 2000, RA 8794 sets a load limit of 13,500 kilograms per axle as stipulated by the MVUC, reputedly the highest load limit in the world.
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
8:03 AM
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