I was driving home from Manila to Naga City along the South Road on early morning of Saturday, Oct. 19. When I got to near Atimonan’s old zig-zag road or what we call “EME” at about 5:00 AM, traffic was at a standstill. Then when I turned on the radio for news, I heard about the Atimonan Diversion Road accident involving 8 vehicles that occurred much earlier at around 1:00 AM that same morning.
I waited for over 30 minutes, took the time to have some sleep, until a police car passed by and stopped for a while. A policeman then told me that I could already continue on via “EME.”
As it turned out, the accident involved only 7 vehicles: 3 buses from Isarog Line, Superlines, and BLTB, 3 closed vans, and a trailer truck. 19 people died on the spot and another died while being treated in Gumaca. 57 more were injured. (ABS-CBN News and DZMM)
Sad. And very tragic. For this accident is yet again one of many accidents just waiting to happen along the South Road to Bikol.
Police investigators reported that the site of the smash-up was on a dark and unlighted downhill stretch in Barangay Sta. Catalina, Atimonan. They also noted the absence of traffic road signs to guide motorists, especially on the more dangerous parts of the zig-zag road.
DPHW for its part, played the blame-game as usual, and pointed the finger at the people in nearby barangays. They say that highway thieves from among these communities take down road signs and sell them in junk shops.
Surely, you don’t solve the problem of highway thieves by simply no longer putting road signs.
For sure, too, budget should not be a problem. PNoy and our senate and congressional pork thieves have billions and billions of our money from where they can allocate light posts, road signs, and better roads.
On a larger scale, this Atimonan tragedy once again displays the neglect of Imperial Manila of down south, especially us in the tail end of Luzon or Bikol. Contrast this with all the expressway projects up north: well-lighted, smooth roads, and other travel perks, if you will.
Indeed, every time we travel by road to and from Manila, it’s always one high-risk journey.
You can’t have more fun in the Philippines, or Bikol for that matter, if you’ll end up dead or injured. Worse, if your body were laid out on the road and covered only by banana leaves like the hapless victims of the Atimonan accident.
We pray for all the dead.
On a positive note, amidst the wreckage of the pile-up, 2 infants with only minor scratches were rescued.
Thus, we urge our responsible authorities and agencies to see to it that these survivors and all other travellers, you and me, can have safe and smooth travel along the South Road next time.