SANTIAGO.- Six of this province’s communities southern today awoke to a protest to demand that the authorities keep their promises to repair the Santiago-Puñal highway.

The road which links that township with the city Santiago and the rural communities Palo Amarillo, Laguna Prieta, Estancia Nueva, El Papayo and Baitoa, was blocked with large trunks, planks, boulders, among other heavy objects.

The protest’s organizers also set tires afire to prevent vehicle traffic and to call the attention of the authorities.

Early this morning hundreds of employees walked to work and to alternate routes as the blockage of the Santiago-Puñal highway caused a massive traffic jam.

Ten months ago the Public Works Ministry had to promise the roadway’s reconstruction after protests affected thousands of passengers who use public transport between Santiago to the communities Baitoa, and Sabana Iglesia.

The organizers haven’t made a statement as to how long the protest will last.