Maharlika Highway

Does the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur headed by Gov. Lray Villafuerte have the legal authority to close the Maharlika Highway to motorists for five hours? Did it have that authority last year in closing the above national highway to traffic?

We raise these questions in view of the media advisory which was recently released by the General Manager of the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CWC) regarding the five-hour closure from traffic of the said national road from Del Rosario, Naga City to Palestina, Pili, Camarines Sur on August 22. Last year, the provincial government barred and deterred motorists from using the same highway in order for participants of an international triathlon competition to use it exclusively for themselves. Supposedly, with that same international triathlon competition again being held here at Camarines Sur, the abovementioned portion of Maharlika Highway is again being closed to all motorists in favor of triathlon contestants, many of whom are foreigners.

In fact, the released media advisory raises more questions: does the General Manager of the CWC have the authority to make such official announcements? Should it not be the DPWH or the DOTC which ought to make such official public notices? Is the media advisory of CWC General Manager official? What happens when an emergency occurs-say a patient from the town of Ocampo needing immediate medical attention at one of Naga's hospitals-and travelling through that part of the national road is required? Would that patient's vehicle be allowed to pass? More to the point, would not that patient have the legal right to pass through the national road?

In the euphoria and glitter offered by this enormous tourism event organized by the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, the matter whether the latter has the authority to prevent motorists from using the national highway gets trampled on. This should not be the case.