Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 10) — The vehicle load limit for public highways should be reviewed to address the increasing problem of poor road conditions, government officials said on Tuesday.
The penalty for overloading under Section 6 of the Republic Act No. 8794 of 2000 (R.A. 8794) states that no axle load shall exceed 13,500 kilograms. The law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) was amended in 2013.
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel suggested that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) should request to downsize the 13,500 kilograms axle load limit.
\”RA 8794 of 13,500 kilograms is one of the highest in the world…If you’re ready with your professional opinion, what should that recommended weight be, given the Philippine experience, context and culture…\” Pimentel said during the Senate deliberations on the DPWH’s proposed 2024 budget.
\”I can only give my information from other countries, for developed countries, the axle load limit that have been imposed is actually between 9.5 to 11 tonnes per axle,\” DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said.
Pimentel reiterated that the law should be changed.
\”Doon muna tayo sa limit because even if you measure it and then you allow it, it is too heavy for our specs, our roads, e di kawawa rin tayo,\” he said.
\”Paulit-ulit itong kritisismo sa DPWH and then ultimately aabot sa legislators na ano ba ‘yang daan na yan kagagawa lang, sisirain ulit,\” Pimentel also said. \”Ang explanation napaka-technical, axle load, sino makakaintindi niyan?\”
[Translation: Let’s go first with the limit because even if you measure it then you allow it, it is too heavy for our roads and we will all suffer. The DPWH is criticized again and again and ultimately, this will reach the legislators. They complain about the roads that just got repaired only to be destroyed again. The explanation is too technical, axle load, who can understand that?]
\”We will have to intensify the implementation of the overloading law,\” Bonoan said. \”Nung nasa department po ako [When I was with the department], I recall, bumili po kami ng [we bought] portable weighing scales…We have to acquire new types of weighing scales.\”
The DPWH chief said the R.A. 8794 should be reviewed again because the penalties are too low.
For his part, Senator Sonny Angara said the low penalty imposed on violators also plays a part in damaging roads.
\”They would rather pay the penalty than follow the law,\” he said.
\”How often do you measure the weight of the truck? Kasi kung hindi mo alam eh ‘yung nine trucks pala doon, overloaded diba? So masisira talaga ‘yung kalsada,\” said Angara said.
[Translation: …Because if you don’t know the [weight] of the trucks then it will be overloaded, right? It will surely destroy the roads.]
For the road’s lifespan, Bonoan said asphalt pavements should be designed for 15-year economic life, while concrete roads and bridges should last 25 to 30 years.
