Road Transport. The modes of land transportation in Bicol are through the road and rail. The region's land transport system relies heavily on the road network. Maharlika and Quirino Highways are the
trunkline
roads that
connect
mainland
Bicol to
Metro
Manila. The
east-west
lateral
network is
being served
by national
secondary
and
provincial
roads that
lead mostly
to various
national and
municipal
ports for
inter-modal
transport
services in
the island
provinces of
Catanduanes
and Masbate
and other
parts of the
Visayas.
The regions total road network is 10,765.46
kilometers.
It comprises
2,195.84 kms.
(20.39
percent) of
national
roads and
8,572.62 kms.
(79.61
percent) of
local
roads.
Local roads
are composed
of
provincial,
municipal,
city and
barangay or
farm-to-market
roads. Most
of the local
roads need
improvement
to
efficiently
link them to
the arterial
or national
roads to
support the
development
of the
countryside.
Generally,
barangay or
farm-to-market
roads are in
very poor
condition
which hinder
the flow of
goods and
services
from the
production
areas to the
market
centers.
More than
half (53.16
percent) of
the region's
road network
are barangay
roads.
The length of paved national road increased by
about 164.4
kilometers.
Almost
three-fourths
(71.65
percent or
1,573.4 kms.)
are paved
with either
concrete or
asphalt.
The
remaining
622.44 kms.
(28.35
percent) are
unpaved
composed of
gravel
surface and
earth road.
Most of the
unpaved
national
roads are
located in
Camarines
Sur
(particularly
in Caramoan
Peninsula
area),
Catanduanes,
and Masbate.
Generally, there is still poor accessibility as
far as road
transportation
is
concerned,
as reflected
by the
regions
gross road
density of
only 0.611
km. of road
per sq. km.
of land
area.
However,
comparing
the region's
road density
ten years
ago, which
was only
0.50 km./sq.km.,
this
reflects a
significant
accomplishment.
The
significant
increase in
the regions
road density
was
attributed
to the
opening and
construction
of Quirino
Highway in
Camarines
Sur.
Railroad Transport.
The PNR suspended its operation after Typhoon Milenyo
(September
2006) and
Typhoon
Reming
(November
2006) which
caused
considerable
damages to
the railroad
tracks,
stations,
and
communication
facilities
along the
mainline
south.
Prior to these typhoons, the PNR had regular
daily trips
serving the
Legazpi-Manila
line. The
operation of
PNR declined
because of
very low
traffic due
to poor and
unreliable
services
brought by
the bad
condition of
the railroad
tracks, old
passenger
coaches and
locomotives,
unsecured
travel, and
long travel
time as
compared to
public
utility bus.
The
government
lacks the
necessary
funds to
fully
upgrade and
efficiently
operate the
south
railway
system.
PNR south line has narrow gauge rail tracks
(1067 mm.)
for its
locomotives
and rolling
stocks.
There has
been a
strong
clamor for
PNR to use
the standard
gauge
railroads
(1435 mm.)
both for its
Northrail
and
Southrail
Projects.
Standard
gauge is now
the dominant
gauge
technology.
The future
development
of
heavy-wheel
rail system
is geared
towards
standard
gauge
technology.
This
dominant
rail
technology
brings about
modern
developments
in equipment
safety,
system
efficiency,
higher
speeds, and
higher level
of
satisfaction
and comfort
to
passengers.
The rolling stocks for standard gauge is less
expensive in
the long
term.
System
components
and spare
parts for
narrow gauge
system are
not easily
available in
the world
market,
hence making
these spare
parts very
expensive
due to
limited
supply.
Standard
gauge allows
higher axle
loads,
containerized
cargoes and
freight
wagons.
The
participants
during the
DOTC PNR
consultation
on September
18, 2007
unanimously
agreed that
the Bicol
Region
component of
the PNR
mainline
south must
be
modernized
using the
standard
gauge and
run by
electricity.
A
feasibility
study on the
PNR south
railways to
Matnog,
Sorsogon was
prepared by
the
Department
of
Transportation
and
Communication
(DOTC). The
proposed
railway
extension to
Matnog shall
strengthen
the
inter-regional
transport
linkages by
complementing
the ferry
services in
Matnog Port
in Sorsogon.
The entire
project is
proposed to
be
implemented
in three
phases,
namely: (1)
Phase 1
rehabilitation
of existing
railway line
from Calamba
to Lucena
City (77
kilometers);
(2) Phase 2
-
rehabilitation
of existing
railway line
from Lucena
City to
Legazpi City
(345
kilometers);
and Phase 3
construction
of new
railway
extension
line from
Comun,
Camalig,
Albay to
Matnog,
Sorsogon
(135
kilometers).
The
feasibility
study of
Phase 1 (Calamba
to Lucena
Section) is
for
implementation.
The
feasibility
study of
Phases 2 and
3 (Lucena to
Legazpi City
Section and
Legaspi City
to Matnog,
Sorsogon) is
for re-study
and updating
with the
agreement to
modernize
mainline
south to
standard
gauge and
considering
the effects
of typhoons
Milenyo and
Reming along
the
Guinobatan
portion.
