My daily route to school

I started at the front of our gate at exactly an hour before the class starts (time is an important
factor). My home is about 15 kilometers away from Bicol University College of Engineering and
it takes several rides to arrive at the destination. The first challenge is riding a tricycle. Since my
residence is far from the AH-26 Highway, it is the mode of transportation which traverses
Barangay Maopi to Barangay Anislag in Daraga. The fare is reasonably 10 pesos for 1.41
kilometers journey. Next stop is the waiting area. I always took for about 10 minutes just for a
jeepney. En route Anislag to Daraga (town proper), this travel almost took thirty to forty
minutes, depending on the traffic. Arguably, this is the longest part of the route. Aside from the
displacement, it passes through eight barangays respectively barangays for Anislag, Namantao,
Bascaran, Tabon-Tabon, Penafrancia, Kiwalo, Kimantong and Sipi. Notable among this passage
are in Namantao, in which traffic built up as construction for two roads along the AH 26
Highway near the Namantao Elementary continues. In Bascaran notable passage is the endless
road repair and eventually another stopping point for the jeepney to load passenger in the
crossing for Bascaran-Mabini area. Close to that, another stop that concludes the fate for my
tardiness another traffic in the boundary for Bascaran-Tabon-Tabon. It is in the crossing for
access road toward Bicol International Airport (in front for Sea Oil gasoline Station) in the left
and on the right were Petron and Sloppy Joe situated. It has a stoplight that allows only one
direction for vehicles to pass at a time. It took fifteen to thirty minutes to change the signal. The
reason of one-way traffic is the construction of a bridge that joins Bascaran and Tabon-Tabon
which started constructing last year. After that, another traffic build ups in the crossing of Tabon-
Tabon-Estanza road from the right which St. Claire Monastery has been built and just a few
meters another crossing from the left, Tabon-Tabon to Camalig road adds up another messy
traffic aside from Tabon-Tabon Elementary School in the vicinity. Passing through this, jeepney
speeds up fast, encountering another road repair that enables every vehicle to slow down. This is
in front of Wilcon Hardware and Depot and Jaucian Village in Tabon-Tabon. Close to the traffic,
the boundary at the crossing of Tabon-Tabon-Gabawan is observed as the Substation of National
Power Corporation serves as an important signage. Going straight would lead to another road
repair and eventually this time in Penafrancia, in front of Iglesia Ni Cristo chapel, up to crossing
toward Balinad. It requires a speeding limit as it caters to only two lanes. After passing through,
it was almost a kilometer away from the starting point and kilometers away from the destination,
meaning it was the halfway. Barangays of Kiwalo, Upper Sipi and Kimantong offers
breathtaking view of the whole sub-urban area of Daraga and Legazpi City as the road is
elevated and on the hillside. Houses and infrastructure built almost near or even at the top of the
road canal making the road looks narrow. As the jeep slows downhill, the journey almost pass its
climax. A large Y-crossing and Shell station signifies that the jeepney had enter the downtown
Daraga. Going left would lead to Camalig and on the other hand, right would lead to Legazpi
City. Jeepney slowly turn right and enters Paterno Street in Sipi turning left toward Bings Resto
(MH Del Pilar Street) is where the final dropping point and terminal of Anislag-Daraga jeepney
route. Twenty pesos fare is pretty reasonable. Another five meters walk going through JN
bakeshop facing old Oriental Bazar is the place where I ride another jeepney. This time I took
Daraga-Legazpi jeep (actually any jeepney will do but usually Daraga-Legazpi pick up there).
Daraga-Legazpi jeepney traverses a one way Rizal Street meaning the traffic only move to one
direction and that is going to Leagzpi City. The jeepney passes through Jollibee Daraga, 7-
ELEVEN Daraga, Caltex, Daraga Public market as well as Market site Area, Joy Daraga, and
LCC Mall Daraga. Significantly in this area is where the overpass is located and not far from this
is the busy pedestrian crossing from Daraga National Highschool. Crossroad is also observed as
all the vehicles coming from Legazpi or opposite direction must turn right toward Gen. Luna
Street. Hundred meters ahead is where Bicol University College of Business Economics and
Management (BU-CBEM) campus is situated. Beside is the BU-CSSP facing Bicol College main
building. Five hundred meters ahead is where the Sagpon River is bridged by Sagpon Bridge 1.
College of Education is found another 500 hundred meters further, facing BHRMC Hospital.
Hundred meters ahead lies the boundary of Daraga and Legazpi and where BU-Main is situated.
Going straight would lead the journey in between Camp Ola entrance and BU-grandstand.
College of Science or Gate 1 of Bicol University are 50 meters ahead. Head straightforward in
front of Coconut Authority and DENR is the EMS Barrio crossing, where I finally set out and
take a tricycle ride traversing BUCIT road. The dropping point is on the entrance of BU East
Campus and from there there, 200 meters walk lead me to Geodetic Engineering building. My
reactions toward the route are that I felt some frustrations on how our public ways were planned.
They supposed to serve as easement of accession for entire societal needs but a lot of problems
would be encountered. Many things are built useless like overpass in Daraga or maybe
unutilized. Poor residential planning that affects the generation of our public roads. Poor traffic
management as well as education toward vehicular drivers in using alternate roads instead of
going through the town proper if they do not need to.

Figure 1: My home in Maopi going to Anislag through tricycle

Figure 2: From Anislag to GE Building

Figure 3 From Jeepney station in Daraga to GE building

References
Sangguniang Bayan Ng Daraga (1993) Municipal Order 02-1993: Ordinance Declaring Certain
Portions Of The Municipal Streets In Daraga, Albay, As One-way Traffic To All Kinds Of Motor
Vehicles, Tricycles And Pedicabs Whether For Hire Or Not, Providing Penalties For The
Violation Thereof. https://sbcouncildaraga.com/product/02-1993_an-ordinance-declaring-certain-
portions-of-the-municipal-streets-in-daraga-albay-as-one-way-traffic-to-all-kinds-of-motor-
vehicles-tricycles-and-pedicabs-whether-for-hire-or-not-providing/

Google. (n. d.). [Map of AH-26 Highway, Daraga, Albay, Philippines]. Retrieved February 21,
2024, from https://www.google.com/maps/@13.1015139,123.697098,756m/data=!3m1!1e3?
entry=ttu

Earth-Google. (n. d.). [Map of Daraga, Albay, Philippines]. Retrieved February 21, 2024, from
https://earth.google.com/web/@13.14820257,123.72582603,20.06153889a,2604.5706757d,30.0
0073633y,359.43793971h,0t,0r/
data=MikKJwolCiExN3dXMkpGT0cyV2ZfdjFHRVNQemdORzZJR1E0V2M5dU0gAToDCgE
w