THE clearing of obstructions along national roads in the province is left to the judgment call of local government units and no longer by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

This was pointed out by DPWH Regional Director Rommel Tan during the question hour of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on Oct. 17 probing the reasons for the continuous heavy traffic along the national roads in Calasiao, Dagupan and Binmaley.

He said there are ongoing widening projects of national roads in the three towns and the contractors of the DPWH coordinated with local officials before they began their projects contrary to the claim of Binmaley Mayor Simplicio Rosario.

Palays are now being dried on portions of road pavements in Calasiao as well as in adjacent Sta. Barbara, which was blamed for the worsening vehicular traffic in the area.

The SP noted that even shoulders of newly widened roads are now being used for parking of private vehicles.

In some areas, barangay tanods install steel barricades along national roads in a bid to slow down passing vehicles once they approach public schools where pupils and students might be crossing.

Tan admitted that national roads are under the jurisdiction of the DPWH but they have no police power to arrest those misusing highways as this fall under the LGUs and the police.

Sr. Supt. Ronald Oliver Lee, officer-in-charge of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, said in the absence of a law enacted by local government units, police can only advise and appeal to those misusing national government laws and do not arrest them.

“Show us the ordinance and we will enforce it,” said Lee, in an obvious dare to the LGUs.

Tan said the LGUs can even enact ordinances prohibiting motorized tricycles from traversing national highways if they want to in a bid to really unclog national highways. (Leonardo Micua)

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