By Michelle Ducut
Government agencies have joined forces to address heavy traffic congestion along major roads in Camarines Sur, impacting motorists traveling between the Bicol region and Visayas and Mindanao.
Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon, director of Police Regional Office 5 (Bicol), said on Thursday that meetings were held with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Highway Patrol Group (HPG), Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and local government units (LGUs) to devise immediate solutions.
Personnel from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, HPG, and Special Action Force have been deployed in traffic-prone areas, with help desks and police presence established in municipalities such as Lupi, Ragay, and Sipocot.
Dizon noted the implementation of a 30-minute stop-and-go traffic scheme in affected areas and emphasized continuous coordination among agencies for efficient traffic management, the exploration of alternative routes, and road clearing operations.
DPWH-5 Director Virgilio Eduarte confirmed ongoing efforts to install steel sheet piles and backfilling to enable a two-lane traffic flow. Work on road reinforcements is being expedited, and all road construction activities in Lupi have been temporarily suspended to reduce congestion.
Eduarte acknowledged the challenges caused by uneven roads and road slips but assured motorists that measures are being fast-tracked to improve conditions.
Meanwhile, LTO Ragay Enforcement Team continues to manage traffic along Andaya Highway, particularly in Barangay Binahan Upper to Poblacion, Ragay. The agency is issuing citations to traffic violators, particularly those engaged in counterflowing, and providing assistance to maintain a smoother traffic flow.
LTO-5 Director Francisco Ranches Jr. urged travelers to exercise caution and follow traffic advisories as efforts to address congestion continue. The traffic problem has been attributed to uneven road conditions, ongoing repairs, and undisciplined driving practices.