Ininspeksiyon nitong Lunes, Disyembre 27, ng Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) ang Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) sa Tondo, Maynila kasunod ng nalalapit na pagsasara ng bahagi ng Roxas Boulevard upang bigyang daan ang pagkukumpuni ng nasirang box culvert ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Sa ginanap na inspeksyon, sinabi ni MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos na nakipagpulong aniya sila sa Department of Transportation (DOTr), DPWH, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), at International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) upang talakayin ang mga solusyon at humanap ng mga alternatibong ruta para sa mga truck at trailers na maaapektuhan ng road closure o pagsasara ng kalsada.
“One of the possible solutions that we are eyeing is for the container vans to be carried on the barge and will be transported from MICT going to the Cavite Gateway Terminal in Tanza, Cavite,” sabi ni Abalos.
“We are studying all options to alleviate the possible traffic it would generate,” dugtong nito.
Binigyang diin pa ng MMDA chief na aaalamin o tutukuyin ng ahensya kung ang bahagi ng southbound direction ng Roxas Boulevard harapan ng HK Sun Plaza ay tuluyang isasara ng buo o partially closed sa trapiko.
“The structural integrity is at stake. Hence, we are appealing for the public’s understanding of the inconvenience the road closure would cause. This is temporary. The construction is only for three months,” paliwanag ni Abalos.
Sa panig ni DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade na ang Cavite Gateway Terminal ay pagaganahing epesyente sa transport ng container trucks. Ang rehabilitasyon ng nasirang Libertad Drainage Main Box Culvert sa harap ng Libertad Pumping Station sa Pasay City ay kinakailangan naman ng agarang pagsasara ng southbound portion ng Roxas Boulevard.
Tinatayang 1,000 na cargo trucks at trailers kada araw ang dumaraan sa Roxas Boulevard southbound direction.
Naroon din sa inspeksiyon ng iba pang opisyal kabilang sina DPWH NCR Regional Director Nomer Abel Canlas, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago, at ICTSI Executive Vice President Christian Gonzales.
Bella Gamotea
