TACLOBAN CITY – The Leyte provincial board has approved an ordinance granting Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla the authority to impose load limits on certain cemented provincial roads on a case-by-case basis, aiming to protect infrastructure and preserve road quality.
The ordinance, titled “An Ordinance Establishing Digital Monitoring System on the Operations of Quarry Sand and Gravel Activities in the Province of Leyte and for Other Purposes”,” is an initiative led by the governor himself.
Leyte 5th district board member Carlo Loreto explained that the ordinance introduces the use of digital technology to monitor sand and gravel hauling operations.
“This is an initiative of Gov. Icot. The sand and gravel hauling operations will now be monitored through a digital system,” he said.
Under the ordinance, microchips will be installed in vehicles used by quarry operators. These microchips will track the vehicles’ activities, allowing for real-time monitoring. Quarry operators will have the chips installed when they apply for their permits with the provincial government.
“With this innovation, there will be less human intervention, which we hope will not only protect the environment but also increase the province’s revenue,” Loreto added.
The ordinance is set to take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
The measure highlights that about 85 percent of Leyte’s provincial roads are already paved, while the remaining 15 percent are gravel roads. However, the technical design of these paved roads, with a thickness of only six to eight inches, is intended to support light vehicles.
The ordinance stresses that many of the vehicles hauling sand, gravel, and other quarry materials are heavy and exceed the capacity of these roads. This excessive weight has impacted negatively on the structural integrity of the roads.
The ordinance aims to safeguard provincial roads from further damage caused by these overloaded vehicles, ensuring their longevity for the benefit of Leyte’s residents and local economy.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
