The Pampanga Provincial Board is bent on passing an ordinance regulating the hauling and transporting of sand, gravel, and other quarry materials within the province.
Board Member Atty. Ananias “Jun” Canlas, chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, said proposed Ordinance No. 12 is in line with Republic Act No. 8794, otherwise known as an Act Imposing a Motor Vehicle User’s Charge on Owners of all Types of Motor Vehicles and other purposes.
Canlas explained during the public hearing on Wednesday that the proposed ordinance aims to regulate the weight and ensure that there would be no dripping from loads of motor vehicles to prevent any vehicular accidents.
“Primarily, this ordinance is designed upang mapanatili natin ang kaayusan ng ating mga kalsada, at the same time, para na rin ma-regulate natin ‘yung mga nasa quarry industry natin,” he said.
As stated on Section 2 and 4 of the draft ordinance, there would be an Accreditation Committee, chaired by Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda, responsible for accrediting any and all motor vehicles used in hauling and transporting quarry materials in Pampanga; and a Technical Working Group (TWG).
The TWG will assist the said committee in performing its duties.
Under Section 6 of the ordinance, only the authorized volume of quarry materials is allowed to be loaded to motor vehicles duly accredited by the committee.
Any operators who will violate the said ordinance will be sanctioned: one week suspension for the first offense; one month for the second offense; and cancellation or revocation of the accreditation of the motor vehicle for the third offense.
Porac Municipal Councilor Michael “Mike” Tapang said once the ordinance has been approved, the accreditation committee has the power to eliminate unnecessary and excess cutthroat competition among the Pampanga haulers.
The committee can also reduce excessive wear and tear on the local roads, and create a more socially-optimal outcome.
Tapang said the approval of the ordinance will pave the way for a more united hauling association in the province, acting in the province’s best interest, rather than self-interest.
Meanwhile, Canlas expressed his gratitude for the support of the truckers and haulers in the proposal.
“Kami po ay nagpapasalamat sa inyong pang-unawa sa ating ordinansa na hindi pansarili lamang, kundi para sa pangkalahatang interes,” he said.
He also furthered that the provincial government is always open for suggestions and concerns regarding the implementation of the ordinance.
The event was also attended by Board Members Benjamin Jocson and Nelson Calara, Provincial Government-Environment and Natural Resources Officer Arthur Punsalan, Provincial Engineer. Olimpio Pangan, officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources III, Department of Public Works and Highways III, Land Transportation Office III, NLEX-SCTEX Corporation, Pampanga Police Provincial Office, respective Sangguniang Bayan representatives of all the municipalities in the province, local truckers, haulers, and quarry stakeholders.