Cargo trucks allowed to pass on Roxas Blvd. from Dec. 17 to 22

Roxas Boulevard (Wikipedia)

MANILA — Starting Dec. 17 to 22 from midnight to 5 a.m., cargo trucks will be allowed to travel along Roxas Blvd. in Manila, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Sunday

MMDA chair Francis Tolentino said this is in response to calls of Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras in order to decongest the ports of Manila.

“I am going to answer affirmative to the request of Secretary Almendras to allow truck operators to utilize once again the truck lanes traversing Roxas Boulevard,” Tolentino said.

Meanwhile, the MMDA announced that it will begin offering free shuttle to airline passengers going to the airports starting Monday as a traffic-mitigating messure.

Tolentino said that they will deploy six buses, including electric buses, for the service to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminals 2, 3, and 4.

The MMDA chief said the measure is aimed at reducing the number of vehicles going to the airports which is expected to increase during the Christmas season.

“Instead of these passengers utilizing their own private cars or cabs to bring them to the airport, they can go as a group by availing of the free airport shuttle service we are providing,” he said.

Tolentino said the South West Integrated Provincial Terminal (SWIPT) in Parañaque City and SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City will be designated as pick-up points.

He also explained that the “MMDA Airport Christmas Shuttle” service will run until Dec. 23.

Airline passengers have to show their airline tickets to avail of the service.

The MMDA, with the cooperation of public utility bus operators, has also dispatched similar shuttle services to six major malls along Epifanio Delos Santos Ave. (EDSA) to provide hassle-free and safe transportation to mall employees and late-night shoppers.