Photo courtesy of DPWH Cagayan Valley
QUEZON CITY (PIA) — The clearing operations personnel and equipment of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are set to remove fallen trees, rocks, soil, mud, and other debris that have blocked at least 13 roads in Luzon due to the onslaught of Typhoon Nika (Toraji).
The DPWH’s Disaster and Incident Management Teams (DIMTs) and Quick Response Assets (QRAs) have been prepared for the road-clearing task.
Secretary Manuel Bonoan has highlighted the response efforts of DPWH during disasters and calamities.
He said these efforts include the activation of DIMTs and QRAs in all DPWH offices nationwide to closely monitor the status of national roads and bridges.
They also preposition DPWH manpower and equipment for clearing activities to ensure continuous road accessibility and road safety, which is important in rescue and relief operations, Bonoan emphasized.
The DPWH stated in its Nov. 12 report:
Tropical Cyclone Nika has caused the closure of 13 road sections across the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and the Cagayan Valley Region. DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, citing a report from the DPWH Bureau of Maintenance, announced that the following nine (9) national road sections in Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province are currently impassable:
1. Banaue-Hungduan-Benguet Boundary Road (Tukucan, Tinoc, Ifugao) due to a landslide.
2. Banaue-Mayoyao-A Lista-Isabela Boundary Road (K0341+(-880) – K0411+187, Ifugao) due to soil collapse.
3. Lubuagan–Batong-Buhay Road (Puapo, Dangtalan, Pasil, Kalinga) due to soil/rock collapse.
4. Baguio – Bontoc Road (Namatec, Sabangan section and Malitep, Bontoc, Mountain Province) due to soil collapse and fallen utility poles.
5. Mountain Province – Cagayan via Tabuk-Enrile Road (Sameyeo, Bontoc Ili, Bontoc section, and Makutiti, Sadanga section, Mountain Province) due to soil collapse.
6. Mountain Province – Ilocos Sur via Tue Road (Cabunagan, Tadian, Mountain Province) due to soil collapse.
7. Mountain Province – Nueva Vizcaya Road (Ab-ab, Bayyo section, Talubin section, Lat-ey, Samoki section, K0381+050, Samoki section, and Fanias, Samoki section, Bontoc, Mountain Province) due to soil collapse.
8. Sagada – Besao – Quirino Road (Banguitan, Besao, Mountain Province) due to soil collapse.
9. Jct Talubin-Barlig-Natonin-Paracelis-Calaccad Road (Natonin, Mountain Province) (a. K0430+600, Tonglayan; b. K0426+250, Porag; and c. K0428+800, Tonglayan) due to soil collapse and mudslides.”
It added: In Region 2, four (4) road sections have been reported as impassable in Cagayan and Quirino Provinces:
1. Itawes Overflow Bridge (Sta Barbara, Piat, Cagayan) due to flooding.
2. Gadu-Carilucud-Nabbotuan-Palao-Maccutay Road (Barangay Carilucud, Solana, Cagayan) due to flooding.
3. Jct Abbag-Nagtipunan-Nueva Vizcaya Rd via Dupax (La Conwap, Nagtipunan, Quirino) due to flooding along the detour road.
4. Jct Victoria-Maddela-Alicia-Kasibu Boundary Road (Barangay Villa Santiago, Aglipay, Quirino) due to soil collapse and fallen trees.”
In Aurora and Isabela, limited access has been reported for three (3) road sections:
1. Baler-Casiguran Road (Dinadiawan-Casiguran Section, Barangay Simbahan, Dinalungan, Aurora) is passable only to heavy vehicles due to flooding.
2. Baler-Casiguran Road (Dinadiawan-Casiguran Section, Barangay Marikit, Casiguran, Aurora) is passable only to heavy vehicles due to flooding.
3. Santiago-Tuguegarao Road (Barangay San Pedro to San Pablo, Aurora, Isabela) is passable only to heavy vehicles due to flooding,” the department added.
The DPWH teams have already installed warning signs to alert the public about the road closures, the agency said.
Sec. Bonoan assured that clearing operations will begin once the affected areas are declared safe for maintenance activities. (PIA DMD)
