Bicol travelers face 5 to 8 hours delay

MANILA, Philippines — Motorists and commuters going to Bicol for the holidays should brace for heavy traffic along the Rolando Andaya Highway, as personnel continue to repair road sections damaged by recent typhoons.

Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon, Bicol police director, warned travelers yesterday to avoid the highway as much as possible, or they would face delays that range from five to eight hours.

Dizon cited situations wherein people from Sipocot town in Camarines Sur spent 18 hours along the highway.

“That is equivalent to a straight flight from the Philippines to the US,” Dizon said in an interview over dzBB.

The vehicle traffic, mostly of cargo trucks, stretch five to seven kilometers long on opposite lanes of the highway.

Dizon said they are imposing a 30-minute stop-and-go scheme for cargo trucks, buses and other large vehicles.

Lighter vehicles, he said, are diverted to alternate routes in Santa Elena, Capalonga and Daet towns in Camarines Norte.

According to Dizon, personnel from the police, military, Land Transportation Office and Department of Public Works and Highways are coordinating to ease traffic congestion in the area. The DPWH said it was implementing temporary measures to  allow two-lane passage along certain road stretches.

Dizon said police presence is also provided around the clock to maintain order and to discipline erring motorists.

There is no definite timetable for the completion of the repairs, he said, noting that rains hamper the repair works.