12-hour gridlock strands Vizcaya motorists
NO MOVEMENT Travelers get stuck in traffic for as long as 12 hours in Barangay Tactac in Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya province, due to a gridlock blamed on poor traffic management at many road repairs being carried out by the Department of Public Works and Highways. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
SANTA FE, Nueva Vizcaya—Ongoing road diggings and repairs along the national highway in at least seven towns stranded thousands of motorists for 12 hours on Monday, drawing the ire of people who complained to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“This government cannot claim that it is trying to improve our lives through daang matuwid because the truth is, this daang matuwid has been our curse. The fact that we have been stuck on the road for the past 12 hours is undeniable proof,” said Dije Gurung, a chef from Maddela town in Quirino province.
Since January, travel through the national highway has taken an additional three hours because vehicles have had to navigate through single lanes along the towns of Aritao, Bambang, Bayombong, Solano, Bagabag and Diadi.
Travel worsened on Friday because of road reblocking in Barangays Baliling, Poblacion and Tactac in Santa Fe town.
“What’s most heartbreaking is seeing children crying from hunger and women having to pass water by the roadside, or the elderly needing medical attention because of the stress. It led me to think: Why is government making our people suffer?” Gurung said.
Many of the stranded travelers vented their anger over social media, narrating their experiences of spending the night on the road.
“That’s almost a given every election season in the Philippines. They’re making money again,” said Brandon Evangelista, a security guard.
University instructor Jane Agbanlog said they had to turn back and take the long route by way of Baguio City through Ambuklao Road just to catch their flight to Iloilo on Monday morning.
Marjorie Tibung said they returned home to Solano town after a six-hour wait on the road in Aritao town.
Policemen spent hours trying to untangle the queue of vehicles along a 10-kilometer stretch of the highway, said Senior Supt. Leumar Abugan, Nueva Vizcaya police director.
“It is taking its toll on our resources. Our personnel have done almost nothing else other than manage traffic in that area,” he said.
Nerie Bueno, DPWH director for Cagayan Valley, said: “We are also doing our very best to address these problems. Sadly, there are factors that are already beyond our control, such as vehicles stalling in the middle of a one-lane road or the lack of discipline among drivers,” she said. Melvin Gascon, Inquirer Northern Luzon
