By Rachel Magday

 

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has backed calls for tougher enforcement against overloaded trucks and the construction of additional pedestrian overpasses along the Maharlika Highway, measures aimed at protecting critical infrastructure and improving road safety in Nueva Vizcaya.

The commitments were made after Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Timothy Joseph E. Cayton raised the concerns during the DPWH budget briefing before the House Committee on Appropriations.

Cayton urged the department to strengthen the implementation of RA 8794 or the Anti-Overloading Law, saying trucks carrying loads beyond legal limits accelerate damage to roads, bridges and other public infrastructure.

He also called for an additional weighing facility in Nueva Vizcaya to expand the government’s capacity to detect, apprehend and prevent overloaded vehicles from passing through the province.

“Stricter monitoring and enforcement are necessary to preserve our roads and bridges and to ensure the safety of motorists and communities,” Cayton said.

The lawmaker also pressed for multi-year funding for bridge construction and rehabilitation projects, noting that sustained financing is crucial to prevent delays caused by annual budget gaps.

Cayton also urged the DPWH to fund the construction of additional pedestrian overpasses in Nueva Vizcaya, particularly along high-risk sections of the Maharlika Highway where residents, students and commuters face greater danger when crossing the road.

Funding for a pedestrian overpass at the Region 2 Trauma and Medical Center (R2TMC) has already been approved for this year. Cayton has also requested funding for two additional overpasses next year—one in Bonfal East, Bayombong, and another in Barangay Balete, Diadi.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon assured Cayton that the department would support the proposals, including the establishment of additional weighing facilities and stronger action against overloaded trucks.

Nueva Vizcaya Governor Jose V. Gambito welcomed the developments and thanked Cayton for personally raising the province’s long-standing concerns with the DPWH leadership.

Gambito said strict enforcement of the Anti-Overloading Law, has long been one of his key advocacies. He stressed that overloaded trucks should not be allowed to operate because of the extensive damage they cause to national roads, bridges and other vital infrastructure.

The governor added that overloaded vehicles can also worsen traffic conditions, particularly when they break down or are involved in accidents because of the excessive weight they carry.

“Protecting our road network means protecting public investments and ensuring safer travel for everyone,” Gambito said