DPWH suspends road rehab in CL for Christmas rush

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is suspending repair and construction works on national roads in Central Luzon starting Saturday up to Dec. 25 to give way to motorists who are going home for the Christmas break.

Antonio Molano, DPWH regional director, said contractors have been advised to suspend work on Daang Maharlika Highway in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija, Roman Expressway in Bataan and Manila North Road (MacArthur Highway) in Pampanga and Tarlac.

He said rehabilitation work will resume on Dec. 26.

Molano said the road contractor, Northern Builders, decided to proceed with its contract in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, although suspected New People’s Army rebels burned two of the company’s concrete mixers at its yard in Barangay Putlan in the town on Saturday.

Chief Supt. Edgardo Ladao, Central Luzon police director, has ordered the police in the region’s seven provinces to intensify anticriminality campaign this holiday season.

Senior Supt. Noli Taliño, chief of the regional police’s operations division, said there should be increased presence of policemen in “convergence areas” such as shopping malls, churches, bus stations and jeepney terminals.

“We have our PIPS (Police Integrated Patrol System) or the combination of all our criminality campaign plans to address street crimes,” Taliño said.

Checkpoints in strategic areas have been established, said Chief Supt. Wendy Rosario, head of the regional police administration.

In Baguio City, repairs on sections of major roads leading to the summer capital have been finished in time for the Christmas holiday.

Juliet Aban, information officer of the Department of Public Works and Highways, said the DPWH and other government agencies would assign teams along major routes to Baguio—Kennon Road, Marcos Highway, Naguilian Road and Halsema Highway—to assist motorists.

Aban assured motorists that roads to and from Baguio City are safe because no strong typhoons and landslides hit the city and nearby areas this year. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon, and Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon