Traffic rerouting eyed on Maharlika Highway in Albay amid Mayon unrest

By Ernie Delgado

LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced on Wednesday the traffic rerouting plan for Maharlika Highway in Albay in the event of an explosive eruption at Mayon Volcano.

In its advisory, the DPWH-Bicol said that it will implement three different rerouting schemes based on where volcanic ash and lahar fall.

According to the agency, if lahar or ashfall occurs to the south of the volcano, the affected area will be the Camalig section of Maharlika Highway. In this case, vehicles should use the Camalig-Comun-Gapo-Peñafrancia National Secondary Road to reach their destinations.

If ash falls in Guinobatan, Albay (also to the south of the volcano), the national road affected will be the stretch of Maharlika Highway in Guinobatan. In this scenario, vehicles should take the Ligao-Tabaco National Secondary Road.

If lahar or ashfall affects the southeastern area of the volcano, the impacted road will be the Legazpi-Sto. Domingo-Tabaco Road. In this case, vehicles should use the Tabaco-Ligao National Secondary Road to reach their destinations.

Maharlika Highway is the busiest road connecting the Bicol region, the Visayas, and Mindanao to Manila.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised Alert Level 3 over Mayon Volcano on Tuesday due to a significant increase in volcanic activity.

Alert Level 3 indicates an increased likelihood of an explosive eruption within days or weeks, according to Phivolcs. (PIA Bicol/Masbate)