Calamba City defers truck ban, PEZA cites risks of serious supply chain disruption

Calamba City has deferred the implementation of its truck ban under Ordinance No. 929, which was originally scheduled to take effect today, August 1, 2026, averting what could have been significant disruptions to the country’s supply chain as the city hosts the largest concentration of economic zones in the Philippines, making it a critical hub for manufacturing and exports.

During a meeting on July 28, 2026, with Calamba City Mayor Roseller “Ross” H. Rizal, the local government agreed to postpone the implementation of the truck ban to allow further review of the position paper submitted by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and other stakeholders. Mayor Rizal also assured PEZA that the ordinance would not be enforced until additional consultations had been conducted.

The PEZA Cavite Economic Zone led by Administrator Ross Vincent S. Sy, together with Cluster 1 zone managers and officers-in-charge, spearheaded the agency’s engagement with the Calamba City government.

PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said the temporary suspension is a significant development for PEZA-registered business enterprises (RBEs), helping prevent potential disruptions in the movement of raw materials, components, and finished goods—not only within Calamba’s economic zones but also across supply chains connected to PEZA zones nationwide.

The truck ban was intended to address traffic congestion, improve public safety, and promote the general welfare of Calamba residents. Under the ordinance, trailer trucks, cargo trucks, and other heavy motor vehicles would be prohibited from traversing designated roads in the city from 5:00 to 9:00 a.m. and from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.

In its position paper, PEZA argued that the blanket application of the truck ban to vehicles serving PEZA-registered business enterprises could significantly disrupt export-oriented manufacturing operations, the timely movement of raw materials and finished goods, supply chain reliability, employment stability, and the overall competitiveness of Calamba City as an investment destination.

Economic implications

PEZA noted that Calamba City hosts one of the country’s largest concentrations of PEZA-registered economic zones and manufacturing enterprises, including:

• Calamba Premiere International Park – Special Economic Zone (CPIP-SEZ)

• Carmelray Industrial Park I – Special Economic Zone (CIP I-SEZ)

• Carmelray Industrial Park II – Special Economic Zone (CIP II-SEZ)

• Carmelray International Business Park – Special Economic Zone (CIBP-SEZ)

• Filinvest Technology Park Calamba – Special Economic Zone (FTPC-SEZ)

• Light Industry & Science Park II – Special Economic Zone (LISP II-SEZ)

• SMPIC – Special Economic Zone (SMPIC-SEZ)

• YTMI Realty – Special Economic Zone (YTMIR-SEZ)

The exporters and manufacturers operating in these economic zones—including numerous multinational companies—are engaged in the production of electronics, automotive parts, medical devices, semiconductors, precision engineering products, and other export-oriented goods.

These industries rely heavily on uninterrupted truck movement for the importation and local sourcing of raw materials, just-in-time manufacturing, export shipments to seaports and airports, the delivery of finished products, and the transport of machinery and industrial equipment.

Based on PEZA data, manufacturing and export operations in the Calamba City economic zones generated the following from January to May 2026:

• Employment: 78,505 workers

• Exports: USD4,486,360,556.57

• Imports: USD3,383,048,566.00

• Local Purchases: PH35,868,661,710.06

“It is important to recognize that PEZA-registered business enterprises are significant contributors to both Calamba City and the national economy through employment generation, foreign direct investment, export revenues, and related economic activities. Their sustained and efficient operations likewise support local businesses, generate income opportunities, and contribute substantially to the continued economic growth and development of Calamba,” PEZA said.

PEZA has sought the city government’s consideration of reasonable exemptions for trucks serving PEZA-registered economic zones and business enterprises, particularly along key routes leading to and from these economic zones.

PEZA trucks exemption

Based on feedback from various PEZA-registered business enterprises in Calamba City, the agency requested exemptions only for shipments traveling directly between the special economic zones and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) through designated routes. According to PEZA, these exemptions are necessary to maintain predictable logistics systems that are indispensable to export manufacturing, employment generation, and sustained investment.

“Calamba hosts a significant concentration of PEZA-registered economic zones and manufacturing enterprises whose operations depend on the timely movement of raw materials, production supplies, equipment, and export cargo. The uninterrupted flow of these shipments is essential to maintaining production schedules, meeting port and airport cut-off times, fulfilling international commitments, and preserving the competitiveness of Philippine exports,” PEZA pointed out.

“Even a delay of one or two hours may result in production stoppages, missed export commitments, higher operating costs, contractual penalties, and disruptions to international supply chains,” PEZA pointed out, adding that locators in Calamba’s economic zones regularly transact with enterprises in Laguna, Batangas, and Cavite.

In addition, PEZA cited dire consequences to the truck ban, including adverse impact on employment and discouragement to future foreign direct investments.