New rules restricting overloaded trucks to take effect June 1

May 3, 2013 5:34am

 

Starting June 1, the government will enforce new rules restricting overloaded trucks and trailers to minimize the damage they cause on major roads.

The Department of Public Works and Highways said owners of trucks and trailers should abide by the new prescribed gross vehicle weights.

“We have to protect our road pavements from being damaged by these overloaded trucks and haulers. In some heavily traveled national road sections, we have already increased the thickness of the concrete pavement from 230 mm to 280 mm to withstand the allowable load of hauling trucks and trailers,” DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said.

Under the amended resolution, the following maximum allowable gross vehicle weights will apply:

1. Truck with two axles (six wheels), 18,000 kg
2. Truck with tandem rear axle/3 axles (10 wheels), 33,300 kg
3. Truck with tridem rear axle/4 axles (14 wheels), 35,600 kg
4. Truck-trailer with 2 axles at motor vehicle and 1 axle at trailer (10 wheels), 34,000 kg
5. Truck-trailer with 2 axles at motor vehicle and 2 axles at trailer (14 wheels), 40,600 kg
6. Truck-trailer with 2 axles at motor vehicle and 3 axles at trailer (18 wheels), 41,000 kg
7. Truck-semi-trailer with 3 axles at motor vehicle and 1 axle at trailer (14 wheels), 39,700 kg
8. Truck semi-trailer with 3 axles at motor vehicle and 2 axles at trailer (18 wheels), 41,500 kg
9. Truck semi-trailer with 3 axles at motor vehicle and 3 axles at trailer (22 wheels) 42,000 kg
10. Truck-trailer with 2 axles at motor vehicle and 2 axles at trailer (14 wheels), 39,700 kg
11. Truck-trailer with 2 axles at motor vehicle and 3 axles at trailer (18 wheels), 43,500 kg
12. Truck-trailer with 3 axles at motor vehicle and 2 axles at trailer (18 wheels), 43,500 kg
13. Truck-trailer with 3 axles at motor vehicle and 3 axles at trailer (22 wheels), 45,000 kg

Singson said truckers should have enough time to notify their clients and shippers about the new load regulation.

The grace period should also help ensure effective enforcement and strict observance on the anti-overloading provisions, the DPWH said.

The Public Works Department cited studies which demonstrate how overloaded vehicles, particularly trucks and trailers, can damage highways and the heavy toll they take on government's infrastructure investments.

To enforce the anti-overloading provision, the DPWH installed and operates weighbridge stations and portable weighing machines at strategic locations along national roads.

Also, the DPWH may outsource weighbridge and portable weighing machine operations to private contractors.

For its part, the Land Transportation Office will be responsible for imposing penalties on overloaded vehicles.

Special permits

The DPWH reminded truck and trailer owners that they will be responsible for ensuring that their vehicles are not overloaded "from the vehicle’s point of origin up to its final destination."

Also, the vehicle owner shall be responsible for taking measures to ensure the security and safety of its personnel and load.

However, the DPWH said it may issue "Special Permits to Travel" for vehicles "loaded with inseparable/or special cargoes exceeding the corresponding gross vehicle weight and vehicles with configuration different from the above cited."

"Requirement for the issuance of special permit to travel includes copy of registration certificate; copy of official receipt of registration; technical data of the vehicle in the manufacturer’s brochure or vehicle diagram signed by the owner specifying the gross vehicle weight, plan and side elevation with dimensions of the vehicle, number of wheels per axle, and load per axle; and specific route to be taken and bridge(s) to be crossed by the vehicle indicated in a road map signed by the owner," it said. — DVM, GMA News

source:http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/306608/news/nation/new-rules-restricting-overloaded-trucks-to-take-effect-june-1

Brillantes arranging for release of 2010 source code

By:  AMITA LEGASPI, GMA News 

May 3, 2013 6:05pm

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. is now arranging for the release of the source code used in the 2010 automated elections to disprove allegations that there was none kept at the vault in Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Brillantes went to BSP Friday afternoon but failed to meet with Governor Amado Tetangco, who was in India. He said he instead just checked the vault where the source code was being kept.

“Kasi maraming nagsasabi na walang 2010 source code, so gusto naming ilabas para masabing meron. To disprove lang 'yung sinasabi nila na wala naman daw nilagay dun sa Central Bank,” the poll chief told reporters upon his return to the Comelec office.

Asked if he would allow the 2010 source code to be reviewed, he replied in the affirmative, but added he is not sure if it can be brought somewhere as requested by interested groups three years ago. The request was rejected by Comelec then due to security reasons.

“Wala pa namang naka-review nun nung 2010. Kung gusto nilang reviewhin, open na naman sa akin. Anyway, hindi na gagamitin sa eleksyon. Ewan ko lang kung papayag ang Smartmatic na iuwi 'yun for security reasons. Pero ngayon since hindi na gagamitin, pwede na siguro ibigay,” he said.

The source code was not reviewed in the May 2010 elections. The Comelec, then headed by Jose Melo, deposited the source code with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for safekeeping.

The source code was certified then by international software testing company SysTest Labs, now SLI Global Solutions Inc., in their facility in Colorado, USA, for P75 million. It was brought to the country and formally turned over to the Comelec on February 1, 2010.

Encoded in two compact discs, the source code was placed in a small black safety box with the hash codes, locked, and sealed with four Comelec stickers.

The BSP then placed the small safety box in a fire and waterproof vault inside a caged room at the BSP facility in Manila. The Comelec was entrusted with the keys to the padlocks of the cage, the key to the safety box, and the combination of the vault.

Asked for the significance of making public the 2010 source code, Brillantes said there is none except “it will show and disprove 'yung statements ng aking mga kaibigan sa labas na nagsasabing wala daw source code nung 2010.”

“Gusto ko lang i-arrange, makukuha namin yung source code,” he added.

He said not everyone can get near the vault where the 2010 source code is being kept as the area is “very secured.”

Brillantes said the 2010 source code is different from the one to be used in 2013 as the latter “has the enhancements and improvements.”

The 2013 source code is with international certifier SLI Global Solutions in Denver, which concluded, after reviewing it, that it is “functionally capable of operating properly, securely and accurately.”

Dominion refuses to release the source code until Smartmatic pays it $10 million for the supposed use of the former’s technology.

Asked on the chance of getting the 2013 source code, Brillantes suddenly became optimistic and said: “Tignan natin baka dumating pa rin.”

“Baka dumating. Ngayon pagkatapos kong makausap 'yung mga bisita ko dyan baka tumaas taas nang kaunti,” he said.

Smartmatic’s Cesar Flores was seen entering the office of Brillantes before the poll chief arrived from BSP. — KBK, GMA News