In a concerted effort to mitigate the severe traffic congestion plaguing Camarines Sur, various government agencies have come together. The initiative follows reports of significant delays for travelers moving between the Bicol region, Visayas, and Mindanao. On Thursday, Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon of the Police Regional Office 5 (Bicol) announced that collaborative meetings had been conducted with key stakeholders including 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 local government units (LGUs) affected by the issue.
Immediate actions have been taken to address the situation, with Dizon stating that personnel from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB), HPG, and the Special Action Force (SAF) have been deployed to ensure public safety. Police presence and help desks have been set up in critical areas such as Lupi, Ragay, and Sipocot, focusing on major streets and intersections prone to congestion. Dizon stressed the importance of ongoing coordination among agencies to enhance the effectiveness of their solutions, which include exploring alternative routes, upgrading traffic management systems, and conducting immediate road clearing operations. Additional signage and more enforcers are also being deployed to streamline traffic flow.
The government’s commitment to improving the traffic situation, particularly during the holiday season, was underscored by Dizon, who mentioned the implementation of a 30-minute stop-and-go scheme to manage traffic effectively. Meanwhile, Virgilio Eduarte, director of DPWH-5, reported that his team is expediting the installation of steel sheet piles and backfilling to facilitate a two-lane traffic flow. Efforts are also underway in Camarines Norte to address similar road issues. Eduarte has ordered a halt to all road works in Lupi to minimize traffic disruption and acknowledged the inconvenience caused by road slips and heavy traffic.
The LTO Ragay Enforcement Team has been actively responding to the increased traffic congestion along Andaya Highway, from Barangay Binahan Upper to Poblacion, Ragay, Camarines Sur. LTO-5 Director Francisco Ranches Jr. urged motorists to exercise caution and adhere to traffic advisories. The congestion has been attributed to uneven roads, ongoing repairs, and drivers flouting traffic rules by counterflowing. The LTO team is issuing citations to offenders and assisting motorists to ensure smoother traffic flow. Ranches confirmed that all efforts to address the situation are ongoing.