By Eman D. Pangcatan
MSU Intern

THEY’RE big, loud, and hard to miss — yet somehow, city trucks keep slipping through the cracks of a traffic ordinance that’s supposed to keep them off the roads during rush hour, contributing to daily traffic congestion and accidents.

Despite a clear daytime truck ban outlined in Ordinance No. 10551-2007, heavy vehicles frequently traverse Cagayan de Oro’s busiest streets at peak times.

Section 97 of the city’s Traffic Code prohibits cargo trucks with six or more wheels or weighing over 4,500 kilograms from entering specified city roads between 7 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 7 pm, coinciding with the city’s morning and evening rush hours.

The measure, passed in 2007, aimed to maintain smooth traffic flow, particularly in business-heavy corridors like CM Recto Avenue and Kauswagan Highway.

However, enforcement appears to have waned.

“You still see these big trucks every morning causing traffic on major roads. It’s like the rule doesn’t even exist,” said Michael Arceo, a daily commuter.

EXEMPTED? A six-wheeler truck traverses Lapasan Road — an area covered under Section 97 of Cagayan de Oro’s truck ban ordinance, yet still regularly violated by heavy vehicles. Photo by Eman D. Pangcatan

Motorists and pedestrians alike complain that enforcement has been inconsistent and largely ineffective, allowing some drivers to bypass the rules with minimal consequences.

This has resulted in long queues of honking cars, rising tempers, and frequent near-miss collisions.

A 2024 report by the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) noted a 15% increase in traffic-related incidents during peak hours, many involving — or exacerbated by — large trucks operating within restricted hours.

“The law is there, but it’s toothless without consistent enforcement. We need to stop treating these rules as suggestions,” said traffic policy researcher Arlene Go.

Advocates are now urging the city government to re-examine implementation, calling for stricter checkpoints, enhanced CCTV monitoring, and increased fines to reinforce the ordinance.

With Cagayan de Oro’s vehicle count and urban density on the rise, residents hope for more than just promises. Until the law is fully enforced, rush hour is expected to remain a challenge for frustrated commuters.