DOTC, LTFRB and MMDA officials to meet next week to clarify issue on C5 Road, Katipunan Ave. congestion

Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City (Wikipedia photo)

MANILA  — Ranking officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) are set to meet next week to clarify issues regarding traffic congestion along C5 Road and Katipunan Ave. due to an increased number of trucks passing through those major arteries.

This was confirmed on Thursday afternoon by LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez, who earlier denied allegations that it was the extension of the LTFRB’s “No Apprehension Policy” on trucks with green plates that was causing the traffic snarls.

The “No Apprehension Policy” gives operators of trucks with green plates until Aug. 29 to apply for provisional authorities (PAs) to be allowed to operate on national roads.

While the MMDA claimed that the traffic congestion was due to the LTFRB’s extension of the “No Apprehension Policy,” the LTFRB said that even before the policy was implemented, there was already an increase of trucks with green plates using the two roads.

Ginez stressed that the board’s policy on trucks did not lift the truck ban being imposed by the MMDA along major roads in the metropolis, including Epifanio de los Santos Ave. (EDSA), C5 Road, Katipunan Ave., and Commonwealth Ave..

He further said that the “No Apprehension Policy” should not stop the MMDA from apprehending and fining trucks with green plates if a violation of the truck ban is proven.