BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (PIA)—The Provincial Local Government Unit of Nueva Vizcaya has stepped up its drive against overloading vehicles along the Maharlika Highway from Diadi to Sta. Fe town.
The PLGU recently asked the Regional Development Council in Cagayan Valley for a co-management agreement on the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Weigh Bridge facility in Barangay Calitlitan in Aritao town.
The Weigh Bridge facility has been established by the DPWH for the enforcement of Republic Act 8794 or “An Act Imposing a Motor Vehicle User’s Charge on Owners of all Types of Motor Vehicle and for Other Purposes”, also known as the Anti-Overloading Act, the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC) or the road users’ tax.
With the Weigh Bridge facility in place, the Land Transportation Office and the Philippine National Police are tapped to enforce the law.
Engineer Edgardo Sabado, provincial planning and development officer, said the request was already approved on the level of the DPWH and LTO Regional Offices.
“We are waiting for the final approval of the RDC regarding our request to have a co-management agreement on the Weigh Bridge. Once approved, the PLGU will provide complementary personnel to man the facility in partnership with the LTO and PNP law enforcers,” he said.
Recently, the Regional Development Council’s Infrastructure Development Committee led by Governor Jose Gambito conducted a dialogue with the truckers’ group in Cagayan Valley urging their cooperation and compliance with the Anti-Overloading Law.
Former Cagayan 3rd District Congressman Randy Ting, a grains business operator said they are willing to comply with the Anti-Overloading Law.
“There is no need to amend the law, what we need to do is to follow and comply but there are also businessmen who are going beyond it for more profit,” he said.
LTO Regional Director Francis Ray Almora said the organization has intensified its campaign against overloading vehicles in Cagayan Valley, with 30 apprehensions in 2022, 1,055 in 2023, and 2,106 in 2024.
He said this is expected to increase this year due to their sustained campaign and enforcement of the law on overloading.
Based on the DPWH report on Weigh Bridge Station in Barangay Calitlitan in Aritao town from October to December 2024, out of the 1,693 vehicles checked, 1,185 or 69.99 percent were overloaded. (BME/PIA NVizcaya)
