NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur (PIA) — Travelers and commuters heading to Bicol this Lenten season can expect a smoother journey as major sections of the Andaya Highway have undergone significant repair and rehabilitation, easing concerns over the heavy traffic congestion that usually occurs during the Holy Week rush.
This came after Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon fulfilled his commitment to personally revisit the ongoing rehabilitation works along the Andaya Highway on Monday, March 16.
The visit allowed him to reassess several road sections he first inspected on January 16 and check the progress of repair and improvement efforts.
“Maayos ang pagkakagawa nito. Noong huli naming pagbisita, sarado pa ang bahaging ito sa Barangay Manangle sa Sipocot. Ngayon, maayos na ito—matibay at magtatagal. Marami pa tayong gagawin, pero ang mahalaga ngayong Holy Week, kahit paano ay hindi mahihirapan sa biyahe ang ating mga kababayan,” Dizon said.
(The roadwork is good and properly constructed. During our last visit, this section in Barangay Manangle in Sipocot was still closed. Now it has been fixed—it’s sturdy and built to last. There is still more work to be done, but the important thing this Holy Week is that our travelers will at least have an easier and more convenient trip.)
Among the areas inspected was the road repair project in Barangay Manangle in Sipocot, where construction teams continue to address heavily damaged sections and potholes that have long caused inconvenience to motorists.
Dizon also checked the condition of the Mauca Bridge in Barangay Colacling, Lupi. During his earlier visit, the secretary personally observed the bridge shaking whenever large vehicles passed, raising safety concerns among residents and travelers.
The inspection team, composed of the secretary himself, Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Camarines Sur 1st District Representative Hori Horibata, and other Department of Public Works and Highways officials and personnel, also passed through Barangay Cabutagan in Lupi, where a portion of the highway experienced road slippage after being hit by Typhoon Kristine in 2024.
According to Dizon, experts and consultants found that the road slip was caused by poor water flow in the area due to insufficient drainage. To address the issue, a new drainage system has now been installed at the center of the road to allow water to pass through properly, which is expected to help prevent further road slippage.
The inspection aims to ensure that rehabilitation efforts along the Andaya Highway are properly implemented and that issues affecting the safety and convenience of motorists are addressed as quickly as possible.
Dizon added that the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is to make both the Maharlika Highway and Andaya Highway passable in time for the Holy Week travel surge.
“Ang kabilin-bilinan ni PBBM, pagdating ng Holy Week, dapat malinaw na ang Maharlika at Andaya. Maaaring bumagal pa rin ang biyahe, pero tuloy-tuloy na ang daloy ng trapiko at wala nang hihinto. Iyan ang immediate objective natin para sa Holy Week. Pagkatapos nito, ayon sa Pangulo, sisimulan na natin ang pangmatagalang rehabilitasyon,” Dizon said.
(The directive of President Marcos is that by Holy Week, both the Maharlika and Andaya highways should already be clear. Travel may still slow down at times, but traffic should continue to move without coming to a complete stop. That is our immediate objective for Holy Week. After that, according to the President, we will begin the long-term rehabilitation.)
The two-way lane along Barangay Manangle in Sipocot, spanning about 600 meters, is expected to open on March 29 or 30 in time to accommodate the anticipated surge of motorists during the Lenten season.
Source: PIA Bicol