TUGUEGARAO CITY, July 16 (PNA) — The Cagayan Valley Regional Development Council (RDC) has moved to address the traffic congestion along the Maharlika Highway in the towns of Diadi and Sta Fe, Nueva Vizcaya (NV).
In its recent meeting, the council has endorsed three resolutions recommended by its Infrastructure Development Committee to help resolve traffic congestion along the Maharlika Road, also known as Cagayan Valley Road.
The recommendations include the request from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-2) to organize and ensure an inter-institutional arrangement to install a 24-hour standby heavy equipment or wrecker in strategically located road sections in Diadi and Sta Fe; for the same agency (DPWH) to improve the Diadi-Tarictic-Ramon Road and upgrade it to an all-weather alternate road; and for the Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya and the local government units of the two concerned municipalities to install more signages of alternate routes in their respective areas.
RDC-2 Acting Chairperson MaryAnne Darauay said, “It is imperative that such recommendations are given immediate action to ensure smooth flow of traffic in that part, as it is nearest exit from the Cagayan Valley Region”.
The highway links the region to other regions including Metro Manila which exits in Nueva Vizcaya. It is one of the busiest roads in Cagayan Valley as it caters to all kinds of vehicles coming in and going out of Region 2.
Meanwhile, in a separate interview, DPWH-2 Administrative Officer Nestor Marallag said they welcome the requests.
He said there were measures already undertaken by their office to help solve traffic congestion along the Maharlika Road as a result of ongoing road repair like reblocking and reconstruction in some parts of Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya.
One of the measures requires project contractors to employ the services of dependable and responsible flagmen to man the traffic in strategic areas where road repairs are going on. (PNA)