A test run of two weeks for the implementation of the axle overloading law began this week in the first district of Negros Oriental because of concerns over its negative effects on businesses and the general public.

A recent meeting was called by the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry that was attended by Rep. George Arnaiz (Neg. Or.,  2nd district) and officials from the Land Transportation Office and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

It was agreed in the meeting that a dry-run on this law will be conducted to determine its effectivity, despite conflicting interpretations of the law, Republic Act 8794, by the DPWH and the LTO, Arnaiz said.

The dry-run on weighing overloaded trucks will cover only those plying the roads in the 2nd district of Negros Oriental where the only fixed weigh bridge scale in the province is in Barangay Tamisu, Bais City, Arnaiz said.

He also said the 1st and 3rd districts could not be covered by the dry run in the absence of a portable weighing scale for overloaded vehicles, unlike in urban areas like Metro Manila.

Arnaiz also said the formula to be adopted during the test run would be the allowable gross vehicle weight of 13,500 kilograms per axle, regardless of the number of axles per truck.

During the dry run, DPWH personnel, and representatives from the LTO and the Philippine National Police, will flag down vehicles, especially cargo trucks appear to be overloaded for weighing.

Arnaiz said he has asked the cooperation of affected businesses, like sugarcane planters and haulers, during the test run.*JFP

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