By Betheena Unite
National roads in Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley Region were trouble-free during the holidays as several motorist assistance teams were deployed around the country for the annual revelry, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said late Wednesday.
DPWH Region III Director Roseller Tolentino said the close monitoring of major road situations conducted by 14 district engineering offices in the region “resulted smooth traffic all over the region.”
Tolentino, who ordered a six-hour interval reporting, said critical and traffic-prone roads remained accident-free except for isolated cases of minor engine troubles and flat tires, which were quickly attended to by the on-duty personnel.
The director attributed the safe exodus of revelers during the 2019 holidays and during the onslaught of typhoon “Ursula” to the Lakbay Alalay Teams that were positioned along major thoroughfares in the region's seven provinces.
"We activated our motorist assistance teams beginning Dec. 23, 2019. Our District Engineering Officers instantly complied and facilitated the unified manning of their stations 24/7. Our qualified personnel were there to assist motorists and pedestrians who may encounter trouble while on the road,” Tolentino said in a statement.
He also said traffic was smooth throughout the season, making trips leading to churches and tourism sites easy and comfortable.
The DPWH Lakbay Alalay stations will man key roads in the region until Thursday.
Meanwhile, interim Cagayan Valley Regional Director Loreta Malaluan commended the effort and sacrifice of maintenance personnel who rendered overtime service during the holidays in order to ensure road safety along national highways.
During the holidays, Malaluan ordered her personnel to conduct routine maintenance activities in their area of responsibility. “This is our gift to the public and our way of making our presence felt, our roles are still the same, Christmas Day and every other day of the year," she said.
“Maintenance workers of district engineering offices were working overtime and established Lakbay Alalay operations during the course of the holiday season from Dec. 20, 2019 to Jan. 2, 2020 along critical national highway road sections in Cagayan Valley region.”