DPWH: National roads cannot be palay driers

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — The Department of Public Works and Highways in the region is alerting all district engineers to secure major thoroughfares from being utilized as palay solar dryers, so that the safety of motorists passing through national highways is ensured.

DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson underlined the agency’s directive to strengthen ways and means in preventing farmers and rice traders from using such major thoroughfares for aforesaid purpose.

Singson emphasized that national highways were widened to facilitate smoother flow of traffic especially in major arterial roads and not so they can be used as solar dryers for palay or corn.

He added that the presence of big stones or boulders to protect the palay from being overrun by vehicles poses danger to motorists.

In an interview with Engineer Cornelio Amita, OIC-Chief of Highways Maintenance Division, he said that the order has been relayed to all district engineers in the different district offices of the agency in the region.

DPWH personnel were deployed to monitor all areas of jurisdiction and implement strict compliance in coordination with local police.

Specially cited for strict compliance is Western Pangasinan, particularly in the Mangatarem-Pangasinan-Tarlac Road.

Also, Singson stressed the prohibition of use of center lanes of widened national roads by tricycles and motorcycles because they hamper smooth flow of traffic.

The absence of appropriate tail lights on these slow-moving vehicles during night time also poses danger to motorists, and thus the emphasis for said vehicles to use outer lanes, the DPWH secretary said.

Singson is urging the local government units (LGUs) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to help ease heavy traffic particularly approaches to market areas and poblacions/town centers, and to strictly enforce the “no parking” regulations or encroachments of vehicles on national roads, especially on widened portions.

As such, Amita said the issue will also be raised to the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Council with emphasis on the convergence of the PNP and LGUs, especially barangay officials, for more effective implementation of Singson’s order.