All concerned government agencies are working to address the heavy traffic being experienced on major roads in Camarines Sur, causing delays for motorists traveling to and from the Bicol region from the Visayas and Mindanao.
In an interview on Thursday, Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon, director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 5 (Bicol), said that meetings have been held with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Camarines Sur, and the affected local government units (LGUs).
He said that immediate measures have been implemented to alleviate the problem and ensure the safety of commuters.
“We mobilized all our personnel in affected areas and deployed police officers from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB), Highway Patrol Group, and the Special Action Force (SAF) to secure the public. Help desks and police presence have been established at all municipal police stations in Lupi, Ragay, and Sipocot, especially in locations with a high probability of traffic congestion, such as major streets and intersections,” he said.
Dizon also emphasized the importance of continuous coordination with other agencies to facilitate cooperation and implement necessary solutions more efficiently and effectively.
“All concerned agencies are developing solutions, such as potential alternative routes, improvements to traffic management systems, and immediate road clearing operations in areas. Installation of more signage and deployment of additional enforcers to create a more organized flow of traffic,” he said.
Dizon said the government is doing its best to improve the traffic situation and ensure safe and convenient travel for motorists and travelers in the region, especially during the holiday season.
“A 30-minute stop-and-go scheme is implemented for proper traffic management,” he said.
In a separate interview, Virgilio Eduarte, director of DPWH-5, said that their team is fast-tracking the installation of steel sheet pile driving and backfilling to support a two-lane traffic flow.
“Our team is working around the clock to address the concerns in Camarines Sur. We also have another team in Camarines Norte working to resolve road issues contributing to traffic congestion. Sheet piles have been installed to reinforce and strengthen the road,” he said.
Eduarte also ordered the suspension of all road works in Lupi to reduce the impact of traffic.
He acknowledged the inconvenience caused to motorists, such as road slips, apart from the heavy traffic.
Meanwhile, the LTO Ragay Enforcement Team has responded to the intensified traffic congestion along Andaya Highway, particularly from Barangay Binahan Upper to Poblacion, Ragay, Camarines Sur.
LTO-5 Director Francisco Ranches Jr. asked the public to remain cautious while traveling in the area and to follow traffic advisories.
The congestion has been attributed to uneven roads, ongoing road repairs, and undisciplined drivers counterflowing.
The LTO team is issuing citations to violators, especially those caught counterflowing, and continues to enforce traffic regulations.
LTO personnel are also assisting motorists to help ensure a smoother traffic flow in the area.
Ranches said all efforts to effectively address the situation are ongoing. (Connie Calipay, PNA)
