DPWH to help motorists this Holy Week

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has made sure help will be available to motorists during Holy Week.

Secretary of Public Works and Highways Rogelio L. Singson has directed all field units to reactivate the department’s “Lakbay Alalay” program to ensure smooth travel of motorists as the nation observes the Lenten Season.

Starting 6:00 a.m. of March 31, 2012 to 12:00 p.m. of April 10, 2012, a composite team of DPWH personnel, in coordination with other government entities, namely the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and officials of local government units (LGU) will provide assistance on normal and emergency situations to motorists along national roads.

The DPWH Chief has also directed for the hastening of necessary road maintenance and improvement activities, including the installation of legible informational and directional signs, and of reflectorized pavement markings along national roads.

With the DPWH taking advantage of the dry season to expedite various road construction works, Secretary Singson has also directed all Regional Directors and District Engineers to ensure that proper traffic and warning signs are provided with all ongoing road-improvement projects of the department.

“Once our rehabilitation works on national roads are completed, the situation will certainly improve,” Secretary Singson said. He appeals to the public to bear with the inconveniences and stressed the road improvement activities are needed in line with the government’s program to upgrade quality and safety of national roads and bridges.

The DPWH has also advised motorists’ to take alternate routes bypassing traffic-congested areas and road sections where construction activities are ongoing, with the concerned field offices of the department ordered to provide adequate traffic advisories specifying entry and exit points with the corresponding distances and strictly carry out the removal of obstructions along national roads and bridges.

In the Bicol Region, DPWH Region 5 Director Danilo Dequito has reported that some 30 Motorists’ Assistance Centers will be installed in conspicuous places of the national road, not only in the mainland provinces of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, and Sorsogon, but also in the Catanduanes and Masbate island provinces.

Motorists Assistance teams in Bicol will be placed in the following locations:

Province of Albay Province

- Basud, Sto. Domingo (DM Jct.-Legazpi-Sto. Domingo-Tabaco-Camarines Sur Bdry. Road)
- Busay, Daraga, Albay (Daang Maharlika)
- Paulog, Ligao City (in front of Albay 2nd DEO)

Province of Camarines Norte

- Tabugon, Sta. Elena (Km. 244+313, Daang Maharlika) with roving unit;

Province of  Camarines Sur

- Tambo, Pamplona (Daang Maharlika)
- Concepcion Grande, Naga City (Fronting TMG Hqtrs.)
- Tigaon Station (DPWH Junction)
- Buluang, Baao (Daang Maharlika)
- Bato Resthouse, Agos (Daang Maharlika)
- DPWH Sub-Office, Agrupacion, Ragay

Province of Catanduanes

- Manambrag, San Andres (Catanduanes Circ. Road)
- Pagsangahan, San Miguel (km. 24+780)
- Bato, Catanduanes (km. 7+760)
- Sicmil, Gigmoto (km. 64+800)

Province of  Masbate

- Jct. Milagros-Baleno-Lagta Road
- Jct. Tawad-Balud Road
- Masbate-Milagros/Masbate-Cataingan Road
- Junction Buenavista (Jct. Buenavista-Cawayan Road)
- Barangay Del Carmen (Jct. Buenavista-Cawayan Road)
- Barangay Balocawe, Dimasalang (Jct.Balatucan-Cataingan Rd.)
- Jct. Cataingan (Jct. Balatucan-Cataingan Road)
- Brgy. Katipunan (Jct. Cataingan-Placer Road)
- San Fernando South Road (Batuan Section)
- San Fernando North Road (San Fernando Section)
- San Fernando North Road (San Jacinto Section)
- San Fernando North Road (Monreal Section)
- San Pascual-Claveria Road (San Pascual Side)
- San Pascual-Claveria Road (Claveria Section)

Province of Sorsogon

- Pepita Park, Bucalbucalan (Daang Maharlika)
- San Pedro Multi-Purpose Brgy. Hall, Irosin (Km.621+800)