DPWH deploys ‘Lakbay Alalay’ teams in Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY, March 28  -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) field offices in Eastern Visayas have deployed “Lakbay Alalay” teams in strategic areas along national highways to assist travelers this Holy Week.

The reactivation of motorists’ assistance program is in compliance to the directive of DPWH Secretary Mark Villar to field offices nationwide to deploy teams starting Wednesday noon.

The program will end noon of April 2.

“Our Lakbay Alalay teams are ready with the equipment placed in areas where there is influx of motorists. All our skeletal force will be available round-the-clock in an eight-hour shifting. If the need arises, we will provide service vehicles for possible emergencies,” said DPWH Southern Leyte field office chief Ma. Margarita Junia said in a mobile phone interview.

In Southern Leyte province, the 24-men skeletal force will be deployed in four strategic areas along the national highway.
These areas are in the Maasin City area; Divisoria Junction, Bontoc town; Junction Maharlika Concepcion and San Miguel, Sogod town; and Junction Himayangan in Liloan town.

In Biliran, the district engineering office installed traffic, warning and directional signs on key locations along the national roads, bridges and ongoing projects.

The purpose is to prevent untoward incidents, said DPWH Biliran field office chief David Adongay Jr. in a statement sent to reporters.

Stations of the “Lakbay Alalay” team in Biliran will be at the corner of Caneja and Garcia Streets at the entrance of the town center of Naval along Matsumoto Bakeshop, at the corner of Padre Inocentes and Castin Streets in front of Velasquez Drugstore and at the Biliran Junction in Biliran town.

DPWH Samar 1st district engineering office chief Alvin Ignacio said the motorist assistance program is in coordination with the Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police, local government units and other government agencies for more unified assistance.

“The team will provide timely and reliable assistance on normal and emergency situation to the travelling public as the whole nation observes the Lenten season,” Ignacio told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
In the northern part of Samar province, teams will be deployed in three major road sections: Calbayog-Allen Road, Calbayog-Catbalogan Road, and Calbayog-Catarman Road.

The team will not just assist the traveling public to give direction but is also tasked to provide help during emergency situations on roads such as vehicular accidents. (SQM/PNA)