A lawmaker from Pangasinan wants to close down Daang Kalikasan road in Mangatarem, Pangasinan after reports several mishaps happened to some motorists who wanted to see the newly opened way.
On a statement, Congressman Jumel Anthony Espino of 2nd District of Pangasinan said that they already asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the local government unit (LGU) of Mangatarem to temporary bar the motorist from accessing the road because of safety issues.
Espino also pointed out that the influx of tourists in Daang Kalikasan also caused problems to the Mangatarem LGU as they need to clean the trash left by the undisciplined visitors.
“May ilan na po na naaksidente at nabawian ng buhay habang binabaybay ang daang ito. Sa katunayan ngayong umaga lang ay meron po ulit nadisgrasya. Wala po may gusto ng ganitong mga pangyayari at wala din po tayo kailangan sisihin sa mga ganitong pangyayari. Prayoridad po natin ang kaligtasan ng bawat isa,” Espino said.
“Kasama po dito, nagkakaron din po ng problema ang local na gobyerno ng Bayan ng Mangatarem dahil sa mga naiiwan na basura ng mga bumibisita at mga namamasyal. Ito po ang isa sa pinaka masama na nangyayari sa Daang Kalikasan,” he added.
According to Espino, closing down Daang Kalikasan would give the government more space to finish the project and add more safety features to the road.
“Ang pansamantalang pagsara na ito ay para lalong mapaganda at maiayos ang daang kalikasan at matapos ng husto ang proyekto na ito. Pag aaralan din po ang mga nararapat pang gawin para sa kaligtasan ng bawat isa,” the lawmaker said.
Daang Kalikasan is a 14.6-kilometer road linking Mangatarem Pangasinan and Sta. Cruz, Zambales. It was expected to finish in 2021.
The said road became an instant tourist spot after netizens and bloggers shared how beautiful the said place is.
However, Daang Kalikasan’s sudden popularity caused problems to the LGU of Mangatrem as hundreds to thousands of motorists are traveling to the said road every day.