More cops off to CamSur to help ease traffic chaos

Police have been deployed for traffic duties along Rolando Andaya Highway in Camarines Sur where hundreds of vehicles – mostly trucks and buses – got stalled for hours due to ongoing repairs on a long stretch of the highway that threatens to collapse after being battered by heavy rains and floods weeks ago.

- EMMANUEL TUPAS and SHEILA CRISOSTOMO

Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, public information officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said they have sent personnel from the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) to the Rolando Andaya Highway to help manage the flow of traffic. "Our HPG is helping manage and control traffic flow in that part of Bicol," Fajardo said over dzBB radio.

Motorists and commuters have been dealing with heavy traffic along the highway for days, many of them having to wait for five to eight hours before being able to move past the gridlock.

Bicol police director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon has urged travelers to avoid the highway and use alternate routes.

The monstrous traffic jam had delayed dozens of trips to Bicol, according to the management of the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).

PITX spokesman Jason Salvador said PITX and partners were preparing to deploy additional buses if necessary and if given special permits by the Land Transportation.

Franchising and Regulatory Board.

On Thursday alone, 62 out of 113 bus trips were delayed. Due to late turnaround, 10 more trips were delayed on Friday, he said.

Travelers interviewed by media said many of them had to wait for hours inside their stalled vehicles without food or drinking water. Some said they had to cancel their holiday activities in anticipation of worse to come.