BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Public Works and Highways-Cordillera (DPWH-CAR) assured readiness to respond to the possible effects of severe tropical storm Kristine.
Engr. Ruth Duyo, head of the DPWH-CAR Maintenance Division, said their District Engineering Offices (DEO) are on standby and ready to respond to any incident of landslides and road cuts in national roads in the region.
“Ang kanilang rescue team is naka-prepositioned pati ang mga committed na equipment, naka-preposition din po,” Duyo said in an interview.
Aside from DEO personnel deployed in national roads, the DPWH regional office also assigned 24/7 duty personnel for monitoring and immediate response.
She added that in case there is a lack of equipment on their end, they can request from private contractors to assist in clearing operations. Duyo also advised travelers and motorists to refrain from traveling during the onslaught of the tropical cyclone.
“Kung hindi din lang emergency or importante ang pupuntahan, iwasan pa muna ang pagbiyahe. Mag-antay ng mga abiso mula sa mga awtoridad kung kinakailangan na ng preemptive evacuation.”
The Galonogon-Ubao National Road in Ifugao is now passable after volunteers and personnel of DPWH and LGU Aguinaldo cleared the road from a landslide.
As of this writing, all national roads in the Cordillera are passable except for Kennon Road which is still under repair and rehabilitation. Motorists are advised to take alternate routes such as the Marcos Highway and the Asin-Nangalisan-San Pascual-La Union boundary road. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)
