LEGAZPI CITY – Albay Vice Gov. Jesus B. Calisin, chairman, Committee on Public Safety and Emergency of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, has sponsored a resolution requesting President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to allocate P250 million for the immediate repair and rehabilitation of the Bicol portion of the Quirino Highway now known as the CALISIN              Rolando Andaya Sr. Highway.

After requesting Provincial Board Member (PBM) Felipe Berces to act as temporary presiding officer, Calisin took the floor to convince his colleagues to pass the urgent measure because it will benefit not only the people of Camarines Sur but also the people of Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate and Catanduanes and travelers to and from Visayas and Mindanao.

Earlier last Tuesday, Calisin held a committee hearing in the SP session hall. One of the resource persons, Regional Director Orlando Roces of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said his office needs at least P250 million to pave the 33-km Quirino Highway and the 66-km Andaya Highway.

“We can invite the President to come to Bicol and pass through the Quirino and Andaya Highways to see for herself the sorry condition of the national highway. Before, it took me only one hour to drive along the 99-km. national highway. Now you need at least three hours to negotiate the same distance,” Calisin said.

The vice governor further said he was informed by Director Roces that the President has a plan to visit Bicol but the date has been kept under wraps for security reasons.

But PBMS Raul Borejon, Jose Saribong and Felipe Berces questioned the propriety of inviting the President to pass through the bad road for her to get a first-hand information.

PBM Ralph Andes asked why the fund has not been released considering that the present chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations Congressman Rolando Andaya Jr. is the son of the late Congressman Rolando Andaya Sr. after whom the highway has been named.

After the passage of the internal resolution, Calisin said he would handcarry the resolution to Malacañang when he meets the President on Jan. 14.

He also urged the Bicol vice governors to pass a similar resolution requesting the President to release the fund for the repair and rehabilitation of the Quirino and Andaya Highways.