LEGAZPI CITY—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bicol said roads are ready for the Asean summit meeting in Manila this year.
Albay is one of the venues of the series of conferences of Asean delegates to be held at the Misibis Beach Resort for five days that starts on Tuesday August 22.
DPWH Regional Director Danilo Versola met with his 16 district engineers and maintenance officials to ensure the roads are clean and ready, complete with traffic signs. The massive road widening has aggravated the severe traffic congestion near the Legazpi Airport’s Daraga section to Camalig of the Second District, which is part of the Maharlika highway.
Then-Gov. Joey S. Salceda strongly lobbied to include Albay in the series of meetings of delegates when Manila became host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (Apec) in 2015 with Misibis as the venue. Despite Albay’s preparations, Malacañang canceled the Albay Apec delegates’ meeting three days before the awaited December meeting due to severe weather condition.
The Philippine National Police reported 7,427 vehicular accidents in Albay covering the period 2015—2016 despite the full-blast road widening. Last year the province’s vehicular accident was placed at 3,863, Albay Police Spokesman Senior Police Inspector Art Gomez said.
“We hope the Asean conference of delegates in Albay would push through, barring an unforeseen event,” said Salceda, who is now the representative of the Second District. Misibis Resort is located in the Cagraray Island off Bacacay town in the First District.
Security preparation for the Asean delegates is in place, Bicol PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Wilfredo Gardiola said.
A source from the DPWH regional office, however, said last Saturday they’re hoping the traffic problem in the First District of Albay is cleared with the simultaneous constructions and widening of a dozen of major bridges in the 35-kilometer highway route covering the towns of Santo Domingo, Bacacay, Malilipot, Tabaco City, Malinao and Tiwi.
The source who asked not to be named for lack of authority to talk said that, with the simultaneous constructions and widening of the bridges in the First District, road congestion remains a problem with the still unremoved squatters near roads, such as the manufacturing of tricycles in Malilipot town and neighboring Tabaco City.
The DPWH regional director urged the three Albay district engineers to closely coordinate with local authorities to see to it the roads are free from solar drying of palay and other agricultural products, a practice the First District is noted for.
Albay is the home of regional centers based in Legazpi City, where Asean delegates are expected to stay during the Asean conference.