The lifting of the truck ban in Manila last month was a welcome move that was expected to help normalize the flow and delivery of goods and consequently stem inflation trends on goods that have begun with the onset of the holiday season.
The decision of Manila City Hall to reopen its major roads to the entry of cargo trucks should ease the upward pressure on prices, NEDA Director-General Arsenio M. Balasican said in an interview with broadsheet reporters.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guiniguido confirmed that the removal of the ban would also facilitate a faster outward movement of goods that will facilitate and boost exports and imports by the business sector.
“There will be more inputs. People will be able to export as well as import production inputs both primary raw materials and secondary products,” he added.
Guiniguido, however, warned of a lag time between the improvement of port operations and when the benefits trickle down to push commodity prices downwards.
Meanwhile, Agriwatch president and Inquirer columnist Ernesto Ordonez batted for the lifting of similar truck bans in other Metro Manila cities and municipalities.
“We believe (Mayor) Estrada took the right path, and hope the other (Metro) Manila city officials will follow the lead,” Ordonez wrote.
“Given the perishability of agriculture products, farmers and fisherfolk must now work closely with agri-businessmen who buy their products and with Metro Manila mayors so that other cities and municipalities will also do away with the truck ban.”
Though this may mean a temporary inconvenience for the public, it will save jobs and livelihoods, at the same time bringing down the prices of goods to their normal levels, he added.
Photo: from mmt.com.ph