MANILA, Philippines – A viral Facebook post showing a defective portion of Andaya Highway in Camarines Sur sparked concern online.
The post states that around 10 motorists get involved in crashes or end up with busted tires on that road every night. It adds that in a span of a month, 3 people allegedly died in vehicle crashes there and 50 tires were supposedly damaged in total.
Several people who commented on the post also shared their own experiences, saying that passing by this road – especially at night – can be dangerous. Some reported getting flat tires.
According to Helen Bermundo from the repair and maintenance section of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Camarines Sur, they are working on fixing Andaya Highway.
"Nakausap ko na 'yung contractor, nangako sila na aalisin na nila 'yung damage na ito this Thursday, September 7. For reblocking po ito, papalitan 'yung concrete at aalisin 'yung sira," Bermundo said.
(I was able to talk to the contractor and they promised to repair the damaged road this Thursday, September 7. This is for reblocking and replacement of the concrete that was used.)
According to Bermundo, the road repair will only take one week. She gave an assurance that it would be fixed just in time for the Peñafrancia Festival.
In the meantime, the local DPWH office resorted to temporary fixes on Tuesday, September 5, adding asphalt to even out the bumps. Warning signs were also set up in the area so approaching motorists can be alerted.
Bermundo also denied the claim in the Facebook post that 3 people have died from crashes there.
"Wala naman po namatay. Nalulubak [siguro at] nabibigla sila, pero wala pong namamatay," she said. (No one died. Maybe the potholes took them by surprise, but no one has died.)
Aside from Andaya Highway, Bermundo said there are other roads in the province that badly need to be rehabilitated. Among the factors that contribute to these roads' deterioration, she said, are heavily loaded cargo trucks weighing 25 to 35 metric tons.
"Medyo defective na po talaga 'yung [mga] highway... may mga declared sections na beyond economic, maintenance repair. Pinapa-include namin na [sana mabigyan ng budget] for 2018," she said.
(There really are defective highways... There are sections declared to be beyond economic and maintenance repair. We are hoping there would be funds for these roads in 2018.) – Rappler.com