When you travel through the NLE, you see the “Anti-Overloading Law Strictly Enforced” sign (see photo below), which sign specifically mentions “Republic Act 8794.” This law provides for penalties for trucks and trailers for loading beyond their prescribed gross vehicle weight, with an absolute prohibition against axle load exceeding 13,5000 kilograms or 13.5 metric tons.
A trucker’s association opposed the implementation of the law, as there are no sufficient weighing scales to check if a truck or trailer is indeed overloaded. Others, including Mr. Al Mendoza, believe that the law should be implemented as “it protects our roads from getting wantonly damaged by overloaded trucks.”
Here’s the not-so-good part. The same law also imposes on every motor vehicle, whether for hire or for private use, including government motor vehicles, a Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC) which shall be collected from and paid by the owner of the motor vehicle. This is intended to maintain the national and provincial roads, which is ideally good . . . but, as always, let’s see the implementation.
