Stretch of Maharlika Highway in Lopez, Quezon opened to traffic

LUCENA CITY – The once flooded stretch of Maharlika Highway in Lopez, Quezon was opened to traffic after floodwaters started to subside on Saturday.

“The road is now passable to all types of vehicles,” Major Margarito Umali, Lopez police chief, said in a phone interview Sunday morning.

He appealed to motorists to strictly observe traffic regulations being imposed in the area to avoid traffic bottlenecks.

“Strictly no counter flowing,” Umali stressed.

The Quezon Public Information Office, citing information from the Department of Public Works and Highways-Quezon 4th District Engineering Office, announced on social media that all types of vehicles have been allowed to use the almost one-kilometer flooded section of the Maharlika Highway in Barangay (village) Canda Ibaba as of 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Maharlika Highway is the busiest road linking Quezon province and the Bicol region to Manila.

Floodwaters inundated the section of Maharlika Highway after Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco) dumped heavy rains in the area since Wednesday night.

The same section of the highway was also flooded last month because of torrential rains, storm surges and high tide.