To ensure safe highways for everyone, the Department of Public Works and Highways DPWH Regional Office 6 - National Road Traffic Survey Program (NRTSP) with the Bureau of Quality and Safety (BQS) of DPWH Central Office in Manila conducted a coordination meeting with the Truckers Association, several members of the Local Government Units and contractors.
The coordination meeting aimed to ask for cooperation on the stakeholders’ use of roads and bridges due to the upcoming Axle Road Survey and Suspension of Apprehension of Overloaded Vehicles at the Weighbridge Station in Brgy. Aglalana, Dumarao Capiz from July 25 to August 1, 2016. The week-long activity aims to weigh large trucks. The last comprehensive axle road survey was done in 2010 and this year, the survey will be conducted in thirteen (13) sites including Region 6.
DPWH officials encouraged truckers to pass by the weighbridge on the National Road so that they will not be apprehended during the said period. Data will be sorted to get new value for pavement design. BQS will also check data on whether to increase parameters per truck weight and check if parameters are effective when designing roads.
Police Chief Inspector Manny C. Manuel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Region 6 was already made aware of the schedule and police assistance was asked to assist on the 24/7 operation. Sentiments from the truckers regarding their business operation during apprehension and overloading were also voiced out but they were urged to cooperate in the survey so that the result of the survey will be articulated in the Congress as there will be an input for existing laws such as Republic Act 8794. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 6 Assistant Regional Director Ma. Calpiza J. Sardua and representatives from the Iloilo Provincial Government, Passi City Local Government Unit (LGU) and Brgy. Aglalana, Dumarao were also present to hear out the concerns of several trucking units.
This coordination meeting stressed the importance on pavement and bridge design, network level planning and enforcement of vehicle road monitoring.