BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (PIA) – National and local government officials in Cagayan Valley Region have reiterated calls to protect the integrity of the national road including proper road project management to further ease the burden of commuters due to the perennial occurrence of road construction projects causing heavy and congested traffic flow.
Road construction works along the national highway from Diadi town to Sta. Fe in this province paused momentarily as the Department of Public Works and Highways ordered project contractors to put a halt on the projects’ implementation from December 20 this year to January 5, 2024 with the huge influx of motorists and commuters plying the Maharlika highway this Christmas season.
At present, personnel of the Philippine National Police maintained their visible presence along the traffic chokepoints to ensure a proper flow of traffic among commuters and motorists, while the Land Transportation Office also deployed their personnel to apprehend violators of the Land Transportation Code.
This came as commuters plying the Diadi-Sta. Fe National Highway stretch raised awe, dissatisfaction, and frustration over social media due to the poor implementation of a proper road traffic system in this province.
The PNP during the recent Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting also recommended the following long-term and short-term measures to maintain the proper flow of traffic along road construction sites such as the strict implementation of traffic laws and local ordinances, conduct of regular training and seminars for drivers, repair/improve road infrastructure to prevent mishaps, a continuing partnership between the PNP and LTO on the conduct of seminars and renewal of deputization of police personnel, Oplan ‘Tambuli’ on Traffic Laws and Regulations and conduct continuing dialogues and symposiums regarding traffic-related crime prevention and road safety tips and collaboration with concerned government agencies and local government units and truckers on the implementation of a 50-meter distance among cargo trucks along the ascending and descending road portions in Diadi and Sta. Fe and allocation of lay areas, proposed construction of Road Clearing Centers which will be composed of the PNP, DPWH, LTO, and LGU personnel including the deployment of types of equipment to respond immediately during the occurrence of vehicular accidents and landslides, among others.
Government officials also raised the need for road widening and improved alternate roads to lessen the congested traffic along the major national road from Diadi to Sta. Fe
“These inputs should be done by our concerned agencies because it is a recurring problem. Intervention of the national leadership perhaps can hasten the implementation of these concerns to ease the burden of traffic among commuters which made a toll on the socio-economic and psychological condition among travelers,” a commuter who refused to be named said.
Recently, the Provincial Development Council has approved a resolution seeking co-management of the Weighing Bridge managed by the DPWH and assisted by the PNP and LTO in Barangay Calitlitan in Aritao town to stop overloading violations among cargo trucks plying the national highway.
The resolution was endorsed by the Regional Development Council of Cagayan Valley.
Engineer Edgardo Sabado, Provincial Planning and Development Officer said the move aims to ensure the continuous operation of the weighing bridge and to strengthen the enforcement of Republic Act 8794, which imposes a Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC) on all vehicle owners.
Data reported by the DPWH from July and December 2022 alone showed that 98.77% of trucks weighed in Barangay Calitlitan were overloaded. Out of 13,963 trucks assessed, 13,791 exceeded the legal weight limits.
Overloaded trucks were also figured in many road accidents, which contributed to heavy traffic congestion, posing significant safety risks to other road users.
Governor Jose Gambito said the current penalties for overloading violations are relatively low, making it easy for truckers to disregard the law and therefore calling for local government units’ involvement in addressing this public concern.
“It’s not feasible to rely solely on the national government to resolve local issues because they are often too preoccupied with numerous other responsibilities. We need to take initiative at the local level to address these problems effectively,” he said.
Gambito said the issue of the absence of warehouses to secure unloaded cargos is unacceptable since finding storage solutions is the responsibility of truck owners and not the authorities.
”Allowing overloaded trucks to continue their travels makes them principal violators of the law, undermining efforts to enforce regulations effectively,” he said.
Gambito said part of the proposed co-management strategy for the Calitlitan Weighing Bridge in Aritao town includes the allocation of funds for the maintenance of the facility which is a necessary commitment to ensure its continuing operations, particularly in monitoring and regulating vehicle weights.
He also called for stronger enforcement of the law to ensure that everyone follows it and to prevent future violations.
“We can be good examples of effective local governance and road maintenance, leading to safer roads for all,” Gambito said. (OTB/BME/PIA NVIZCAYA)
