SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna –– The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 3rd District Engineering Office here launched Monday its “Lakbay Alalay,” the motorist and traveler’s assistance operations along the stretch of the Maharlika Highway in this city.
District Engineer Jovel G. Mendoza said Laguna’s 3rd District Engineering Office has set up the Motorists’ Assistance Center at the city’s KM-81 along the major corridor of the Maharlika Highway in Barangay San Roque.
Mendoza said the operations are aimed at ensuring road safety in anticipation of the exodus of motorists, commuters and travelers who are expected to travel to the Southern Luzon provinces in observance of “Undas”, the yearly Filipino tradition of paying respects to their departed loved ones.
“We expect the surge of passenger vehicles headed for the Bicol Region and the Visayas for the yearly observance of All Saints’ and Souls’ Days),” Mendoza said, stressing the operations are intensified until the return of the travelers and motorists to Metro Manila by November 5.
This city and nearby Laguna town of Alaminos expect heavy traffic and a surge in the volume of vehicles passing through the Maharlika Highway, the main corridor and highway link connecting the Calabarzon Region provinces of Laguna, Batangas and Quezon to the Bicol Region.
He said the DPWH team will be formed with engineering personnel and trouble-shooter mechanics to assist motorists in case of vehicle breakdown and other incidents.
He added that the city government’s disaster-risk reduction and management team and Liga ng mga Barangay (village league) are also deployed, including the police traffic and village enforcers, to respond to any emergency and vehicular mishaps.
The medical team, composed of members from the San Pablo City Red Cross and health workers, including ambulances are also on stand-by for first aid and emergency operations.
As part of the motorists’ assistance operations, the San Pablo City Barangay Communication Central, KABALIKAT Civic Communications and SNEAKY-COMM-Alaminos are also fielding personnel and volunteers.
According to Mendoza, besides the main Maharlika Highway, their scope of operations also covers Laguna’s third district major thoroughfares such as the San Pablo City-Calauan-Victoria National Road, and the San Pablo City-Rizal-Nagcarlan-Liliw National Road.
He said department personnel have already inspected these national highways to ensure safety of motorists and commuters in the carriageways and that proper concrete wheel guards or steel rail guards are in place. (Ruben E. Taningco/PNA)
