Transport trucks in Valenzuela City: Its effects on residents’ lifestyle

Valenzuela is one of the highly urbanized and industrialized cities in the Philippines. It is a hub for factories and warehouses, the reason for the high volume of trucks going in and out of the city to move goods and products. Due to this, the community bears the burden of problems and concerns that impacts negatively on their lifestyle.

This gif was taken and shared by a citizen, a sample scenario of what they are experiencing almost every night, due to transport trucks in their area.

It has been reported that every year, the volume of transport trucks that operate in Valenzuela have risen, so have concerns about these trucks of residents in the city. The community's concern about these trucks varies, but only has one effect, and it is the burden they carry to their everyday lifestyle.

This is a video of trucks taken by a respondent, on the way to various warehouses and factories in Valenzuela.

In the survey conducted among the residents who are living near the area where trucks pass by, the majority of them raised their issue on noise pollution that affects their lifestyle.

“Tuwing gabi maiingay ang truck na dumadaan at nakakabulabog that's why ‘di kami masyadong nakakatulog pero kalaunan nakasanayan na namin.”

It seems that the residents continue to endure its impact on their lifestyle, but are treating it as a norm.

“Madalas ding dumagundong ang bahay dahil sa malalaking truck na dumadaan sa kalsada.”

The resident complains and shares an audio recording of the noise that bothers them every night.

In most cases, truck routes go from highway to local roads, where residential communities bear a disproportionate burden of traffic congestion that results from residents’ exposure to air pollution from trucks’ movement activity.

“Isa pa, kapag nasisiraan ang mga truck nagcacause ito ng traffic sa looban, sobrang liit na nga ng daanan.”

“Dulot ng malalaking truck na pumapasok ay nakararanas ang mga taga sa amin ng traffic at polusyon.”

“Mga malakaki na truck ang dumaan. Maingay at mausok ang 
kalsada dahil sa mga trucks.“

Many homes in Valenzuela are located near warehouses and factories, Sanlex Corp., Asian plastic, Unitop Corp., Mayer’s Steel Corp., Candy Factory, and 3J Plastic World, where respondents are currently living. Thus, communities are very close to traffic-related pollution. This creates concerns about outdoor air, as well as concern about high levels of pollution indoors while individuals are doing their every day routine. Among them are students, who are attending their daily classes online.

“Lagi pang natataon na dadaan sila (trucks) tuwing nag-oonline class ako.”

Aside from pollution issues, there were also reported effects on their learning. As there were trucks that leave the electricity and internet cables broken. Which is the utmost need now in an online education setting.

“Lagi silang sumasabit sa mga kable ng kuryente. Minsan ay sila ang dahilan kung bakit nawawalan ng internet connection sa amin dahil nakakawit nila yung kable, said by a student respondent.”

“Madalas kami maputulan ng kable ng wifi kaya naaapektuhan ang online class ng mga anak ko dahil nawawalan kami lagi ng internet.” 

A mother complains, as they usually experienced internet connectivity problems, posed by the transport trucks in their community. This kind of problem affects citizens, particularly those students whose primary need is an internet connection to attend in class.

Photos shared by a respondent, a scenario of the burden trucks bring to their community.

For residents in the community of Valenzuela, the effects of transport trucks in the community is part of their daily concern. Thus, they gave suggestions on how to mitigate and solve these problems posed by transport trucks going in and out of their area.

They want the officials of the community to tighten their rules and regulations regarding transport trucks. It includes limiting the volume of trucks per day, proper schedule of trucks’ arrival, that is convenient and would not bring additional harm to residents.

A concerned citizen suggested what she thinks the officials should take into consideration.

“Ipagbawal na ang pagdaan ng mga malalaking truck sa mga kalsadang tulad namin na mababa lang ang mga kawad ng kuryente dahil nakakasagabal sila sa mga residente at kadalasan tuwing napuputol nila ang mga kable ay wala naman silang pake, kung hindi pa nakuhanan sa cctv ay hindi nila ipapaayos ang nasira nila.”

Like what one of the student repondents suggested,
 “Sa tingin ko ay dapat kausapin ng mga taga barangay yung mga pabrika rito na magdahan dahan sa tuwing lalabas pasok sa looban dahil napakalaking perwisyo at abala ng mga ginagawa nila sa mga tao.”

She is a college student, and it is a big burden for her to experience the effects of these trucks in their daily lifestyle. So, the officials must have some sort of regulation, and act as what they are ought to do, especially now that many people are voicing out their distress with regards to the effects of the transport trucks.

In line with these concerns and suggested solutions of the residents, the interviewed local official also shared her thoughts and experiences with regards to transport trucks’ effects and her proposed solution regarding this matter.

“Nung before pandemic nung may pasok pa lagi akong late kasi nagttrafic sa bandawang tiwala kasi papasok yung mga truck nila. Then ngayong pandemic naman ang hassle kapag may online class kasi ang iingay nung mga truck kapag nadadaan.”

The SK Official is currently a College student, and her views are in line with the opinions of other residents, it is the issue of noise pollution and traffic congestion.

“Sa tingin ko dapat tuwing madaling araw na lang sila dapat dumadaan para hindi makaistorbo saka para safe rin kasi minsan sa taas ng truck umaabot sila sa wire tas nakakapinsala sa traffic kaya mas better na rin na sa madaling araw na lang para konti palang ang bumabyahe.”

The main affected of this is the students, as they are to carry the burden every single day. Noise and air pollution, traffic congestion, and internet problems, that they need the most to fulfill their responsibilities as a student.

This article's main goal is to show that students are the one who are most affected in this issue, and people in the community of Valenzuela are hoping that this issue will be raised to the public and higher officials for proper and faster action. Considering that the concerns of the citizens are the same as the SK Official, we can assume that they will mitigate the prevailing effects of transport trucks caused by factories and warehouses in the community of Valenzuela.