LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 4 - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office for Bikol here is pushing the establishment of a new weighbridge along the Maharlika Highway to address the problem on overloading, the main culprit in the rapid deterioration of the highway.
Regional Director Danilo Manalang said the proposed weighbridge should be put in place in Sipocot, Camarines Sur that would also cover the Rolando Andaya Sr. Highway which is considered the main link between Bicol and Southern Luzon up to Metro Manila from where most heavy trucks come from.
"Most of the big trucks hauling down heavy cargoes from Manila to Bicol and the Visayas and Mindanao islands through the Maharlika and Andaya Highways are overloaded notwithstanding the fact that the practice is prohibited by law, being destructive to the road," Manalang said.
He said the new facility would cost at least P23 million as it will also be provided with a warehouse that would serve as storage building for excess loads that would be unloaded from trucks that could be found overloading.
The weighbridge itself would cost P15 million while the warehouse will be constructed for P8 million, Manalang explained.
The pavement of most national highways in the country including Maharlika and Andaya were only eight inches in thickness that could only withstand at least 30 tons of cargo to stay in good shape longer, he said.
It will also help in preventing damages to or collapse of most bridges of the highway, the standard capacity of which is only about 40 tons, Manalang said.
However, big cargo trucks using these road networks are noticed to haul as much as 50 tons to maximize the volume of its load every trip for more profit, the DPWH Bicol chief said.
The proposed weighbridge and warehouse will be put up by the DPWH and manned by the local government of Sipocot in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO), being the agencies provided with police power to enforce traffic rules and regulations.
Regulations on overloading impose fines against violators. The enforcers are also authorized to impound the excess cargo determined through the weighbridge provided a proper storage facility is available to preserve the items, Manalang explained.
He said owners of the excess cargo impounded could claim them back after payment of the required fines.
There is an existing weighbridge built over two decades ago along the Maharlika Highway in Polangui, Albay but Manalang said it could not operate properly because of the absence of a warehouse as cargo impounding facility.
Instead, it became root of corruption among traffic enforcers who use the facility to harass truck operators found overloading and collect bribe money, he said.
Sipocot would be an ideal location for the proposed weighbridge at it could prevent overloaded trucks from proceeding over the rest of the Bicol section of the national highway down to the Visayas island.
These vehicles use the roll-on roll-off transport services in Matnog, Sorsogon in crossing the San Bernardino Strait to reach Samar. (PNA)