In a concerted effort to tackle the persistent traffic issues plaguing Camarines Sur, various government agencies have started to see positive results. The Andaya Highway, notorious for its heavy traffic, is now experiencing smoother flow thanks to the round-the-clock efforts of the Camarines Sur Provincial Police Office (PPO), the Provincial Mobile Force Company, and the Highway Patrol Group (HPG). These teams have been diligently managing traffic and preventing counterflows that exacerbate congestion.
In Lupi town, at Sitio Mauca in Barangay Colacling, a new traffic management system has been implemented, allowing vehicles to pass alternately every 30 minutes. Similarly, in Barangay Cabutagan, heading toward Ragay or Manila, a stop-and-go scheme every half hour has been put in place to facilitate both southbound and northbound traffic.
Police personnel are not only managing traffic but also providing security for Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) trucks involved in road rehabilitation efforts. For those looking to avoid the main routes, light vehicles are being rerouted through the Sipocot-Camarines Norte or the Sta. Elena-Capalonga, Daet, Camarines Norte routes when traveling to or from Manila.
Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon, Regional Director of the Police Regional Office-Bicol (PRO-5), expressed gratitude to the government agencies involved in this initiative. The Land Transportation Office in Bicol (LTO-5) has also played a crucial role by deploying additional enforcers and issuing a travel advisory at 6 p.m. on Thursday, highlighting traffic conditions in Ragay and Lupi.
While traffic in Ragay is reported as light to moderate, Lupi continues to face moderate to heavy congestion. The root causes of these traffic jams include uneven roads, ongoing repairs, and drivers who illegally counterflow. The DPWH is actively working to improve road conditions by installing steel sheet piles and backfilling earth materials, with 58 pieces of four-meter-long steel sheet piles delivered and being installed as of Thursday.