We thank the author, the Chief of Police in Antipolo City, Rizal, who hails from Bicol, for generously sharing this article with us. It was originally posted on his FB page on December 18, 2024. In sharing this with us, he wrote “the post was made for awareness and call for action for everyone.”

We had just returned from Bicol to attend a special occasion. The celebration was great, but the trip was a nightmare. Despite the expected long queues on the one-way road constructions, I was unprepared for what I had experienced. The worst part was not the untimely and recurring road constructions, it was the colossal amount of damaged road pits or “lubak” that we had to hurdle to get to our destination, which had risked our vehicle and my passengers due to the impact on our tires by the deep pits on the damaged roads. I had no alternate driver, so I experienced and felt it all firsthand.

On the first 2 hours of the journey from Manila to Bicol (ETD 1:30AM) we were already met by a long one-way road construction, so I decided to mark in my offline Map all constructions and hazards that caused delays on the road and especially those that would endanger our travel so that on our way back I would have a sort of early warning to avoid potential accidents. I carefully marked all of the following:

• Every time I hear a “bang” or “lagabog” underneath our vehicle due to road pits or “lubak.“
• I stop the vehicle due to construction or road accidents.
• There are ongoing constructions that cause vehicles to slow down.
• Any road hazards that may endanger motorists, especially motorcyclists, may cause damage to property, physical injuries, or even death.

When we arrived in Naga City after 12 hours of travel (with 2 quick jingle stop-overs), I was shocked when I saw the red marks on the Map. Every mark is a hazard that endangers motorists (see the Map screenshots). It seems and feels like we need to repair the entire highway length from Manila to Bicol. It was a one-way trip marking, so I did the same when I traveled back to Manila, and the number doubled as I marked the hazards on the other side of the highway. Before, motorists were aware of the recurring major road constructions in some parts going to Bicol. But now, there is no need to warn people where the road hazards are because there are lots of hazardous damaged roads throughout the trip!

This problem has been historical. I have been traveling to and from Bicol since childhood, but the situation is worsening! Until when will we endure this dangerous problem? Are we waiting for a very important person to meet an accident caused by a damaged substandard road that will spark a congressional or senate public inquiry? What about the ordinary travelers who have to endure this problem every day?

We are pretty sure that appropriate funds have been approved and allocated for road projects. The golden question is, Is the total amount approved utilized 100% for these projects? Did the Engineers, who are supposed to build quality roads, receive the exact amount as approved? Did they use quality and sufficient materials to ensure the construction of safe roads that last? Or somewhere along the way, a small or huge portion of the budget “accidentally” fell into someone’s pocket, even before the construction began. Seriously, how can some people sleep knowing that their willful intent to mess with public funds and serious negligence may result in death, injury, and damage to properties? Someone told me that corruption is like cancer, with stages from 1 to 4. Building substandard roads that endanger the public is Stage 4; it kills! If corruption is inevitable, just like in any other country, I guess, pwede bang hanggang Stage 1 lang, yung hindi nakakamatay? (Just “jokening”)

Like anyone else, we want to enjoy the trip and return home safely. Simple as that. But that simple wish is constantly being taken away by this kind of problem. Look at the red mark on the Map and imagine the number of times I shouted “anakanampu!.” During this trip, my phone dropped several times from its dashboard mount, my wife and kids’ heads bumped on the door window glass, and many screams erupted inside the car. as it banged and swayed underneath every time we were caught by surprise by the road pits. If only the 380-kilometer stretch of Manila to Naga had bright streetlights, we could have avoided those dangerous road pits at night time. But the elephant in the room here is the forever road constructions in the same places. Buti pa ang road constructions may forever.

Why am I seriously whining about this? I love traveling with my whole family and long-distance motorcycle rides, mostly with my wife. In fact, we had traveled via motorcycle from Manila to Bicol a few times already, and I remember my big bike’s Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) engaged several times as I suddenly grabbed the brakes to avoid plunging into road pits. How about the common under bone bikes passing through these damaged roads? They have no additional safety technology features to safeguard them in that situation.

I have heard justifications for why these roads are easily damaged in a short period of time. They say that the soil type is soft and easily erodes, and heavy trucks pass by every day. Rebuttal: We have been building roads on water bodies, for God’s sake. Increase the budget if necessary to procure and build the appropriate roads for this type of terrain. We have brilliant engineers for this job. Just please don’t let this problem reoccur over and over. “Parang awa nyo na, kami ang nahihirapan at nanganganib”.

Now, am I the same as other whiners who just post grievances without any recommendation? Someone told me that if you do not have any proposed solution to the problem at hand, then you better not speak. I have spoken, so here is my recommendation:

I believe we can do something to deprive the abusers of road projects from pursuing their corrupt practices from top to bottom. I could add, “If there are any?” but experiencing firsthand the problem repeatedly since I was a kid and hearing the realities over these road projects, it has been so damn glaring already. This has to stop.

We always see a tarpaulin on Day 1 of the construction for picture-taking compliance, but it magically gets destroyed the following day, so we need it to be published online comprehensively for everyone to see.

My Project Proposal:

PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY WEBSITE FOR ALL ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS:

Primary Feature: Provides real-time historical data on all road constructions that can show the public the following information:

1. Transparency (Quality of Work and Materials):
   1. History of construction of road segments. When was it constructed, and how many times was it repaired? The date of the last repair will be highlighted.
   2. Photos and documentation of the construction before, during, and after. This will show if the materials used, and the manner of construction are in accordance with the quality standards as funded.
   3. Maintenance Logs. Roads are susceptible to natural wear and tear. We need to see how the contractors are taking care of our roads as stipulated in the contracts.
2. Accountability (People to investigate and prosecute for constructing substandard roads):
   1. The details of the road project will show the primary people involved in every project. We need names to know who to “praise” for building “quality and safe road projects that last” or the exact opposite. The construction firm and the inspecting and auditing officers who validated and approved the project should also be verifiable. This is the ultimate check-and-balance mechanism that needs to be strictly implemented.
   2. We can compare construction firms that build quality, safe and lasting roads versus the crooked ones. “Bakit itong isang kalsada na ito matibay at tumagal, bakit ito isa laging sira? sino ba gumawa ng mga ito? The people should know, right at their fingertips.
3. Reporting Mechanism (Citizens Empowerment):
   1. Citizens/Netizens can immediately report a road hazard and alert the responsible agencies that a damaged road needs immediate fixing as it poses a risk to the public. The public can upload photos and videos with location tags to immediately determine specific details for immediate appropriate action, such as placing warning signs. Most of the road pits “lubak” that we passed by have no warning signs, so we just had to “suck it up” and pray it would not damage our car.
   2. This can be a tool to determine the priority of repairs based on the number of reports of the public.
4. Alert System (Public Safety Measures):
   1. Imagine Waze but for road construction. Motorists will be alerted to approaching road pits and road construction (since they are already marked). Knowing the current conditions of the highway, I guarantee this will save motorists from eminent damage to property, injury, or death.

This website should be conveniently accessible to anyone; thus, if someone runs through a damaged road, they can right there and then report the situation and, at the same time, check the details as to when it was constructed, when it was last repaired, who are the people involved in this project, to include the inspecting government officials who have approved the construction. We need to know who are responsible for our sufferings on the road. Of course, the high-level “Public Servants” won’t see the reality on the ground as many travel via air, probably using their private jets and choppers. Here’s a challenge: whoever thinks this post is exaggerated, try to travel via land through the highway to experience it firsthand, preferably at nighttime. Then we can talk.

A question that probably lingers in your mind as well: How about those “public servants” who are said to automatically demand a cut from every road construction budget that eventually results in the recurring construction of substandard roads? Hmmmm… I only hear Marites Level information, thus have no personal knowledge, so I’ll just stick to recommending a solution (Sabay kambyo reverse). I’m just saying this because they should be minding the safety and security of their constituents. Thus, they should oversee these projects in their respective areas of responsibility and initiate an inquiry if they learn about an anomaly in the project… if they are not involved in the aforementioned anomaly of course. This is why they are either elected or appointed in the first place. (Someone’s eyebrow is raising and saying “kala mo naman sa isang ito perpekto”).

Hey! Can someone organize a Party List called KALSADA: KALigtsan SA DAan, and make this proposed project a reality? Kidding aside.. I think this problem persisted because of our Filipino resilient mentality. We whine, endure suffering, wait comfy on our couches, and hope for the best for something to change. Well, this gave an opportunity for the abusers to take advantage because, first, we do not take firm action, and second, we are not empowered with a transparent and accountable system. With this proposed project, not anymore.

Amidst this pressing problem, let us not forget to recognize the good guys in the government working in the background and doing their best to address this urgent public safety concern. We do hope and pray that you guys exist because as long as the public faces this horror on national roads, negative perceptions will always exist.

Will I be persecuted for voicing this controversial problem? Probably, I may be stirring up an organized hornet’s nest that wants to stay in control.

Will this urgent public safety concern get a dismissive shoulder shrug from the responsible agencies, knowing it will not matter? Likely, they had faced the same issues before and got away with it.

But will I sit, watch, endure the problem, like millions of other Filipino people, and hope for the best to improve in an unknown time frame magically? No! We want change. When? Now!

As an ordinary Filipino citizen, can we do something about this problem? Yes, we can. We are in a democratic country, every voice matters.

“You are not a drop in the ocean, you are the ocean in a drop”

– Rumi, 13th century Persian poet

Editors’ Note: TRAFFIC UPDATE | The Land Transportation Office (LTO) reported that the traffic due to the eroded portions along the Andaya Highway, particularly in Brgy. Cabutagan, Lupi Camarines Sur, has started to ease on December 23, 2024. The DPWH Region V Bicol has also launched “Lakbay-Alalay” to assist motorists during the Christmas holidays.

Header image shows a severely caved-in road way in Lupi, Camarines Sur (credit: CamSur TV, December 18, 2024)

About the author

Police Lieutenant Colonel June Paolo O. Abrazado is the Chief of Police in Antipolo City, Rizal. Previously, he was Station Commander of Police Station 7, Cubao, Quezon City. He is originally from Naga City, Camarines Sur.