MANILA - Today is the first day of the implementation of Manila's daytime truck ban. Under the city ordinance, trucks will only be allowed to travel between 10 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon then again from 9 in the evening to 5 in the morning. Violators will have to pay a fine of 5,000 pesos and their vehicles towed. Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said the ordinance will be in effect for 6 months. He said truckers should understand that the ordinance is for the greater good. "Para sa ikabubuti ng marami ito. Dapat di nila iniisip yung kanilang sariling interes," he said. MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, meanwhile, said they will hold a dialogue today with various local government units in order to synchronize the truck ban with ordinances of other cities. "Pakiusap natin sa mga truckers yun dating ginagamit nilang 15 oras ay ngayon naging 13 hours so 2 oras lang naman nawala," he said. "Yung hinihiling niyong 10am to 3pm, andun na yon kaya dapat siguro makiisa na rin sila," he added. MORNINGS@ANC, February 24, 2014