MANILA, (PNA) — The Dept. of Public Works and Highways has started its clearing operations by mobilizing personnel and heavy equipment on national roads affected by typhoon Odette in the northern part of the country.
DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson reported that roads that have been damaged by the typhoon in some areas have been restored and are now open to traffic.
He said the mountainous part of Cabunagan section Mt. Province- Ilocos Sur road via Tue and Khesat Section, Mt. Province-Cagayan via Tabuk-Enrile Road both in Mountain Province which were closed to traffic since Saturday (September 21, 2013) due to slides will be open at 6:00 P.M. on Monday (Sept 23, 2013) following the completion of restoration works.
In the Ilocos Region, all national roads in the provinces of Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan are passable to all types of vehicles while portion of the Manila North Road specifically at Barangay Pancian in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte is one lane passable following the occurrence of minor slides at Km 574+500 which is now subject to on-going clearing works by the DPWH Ilocos Norte 1st District Engineering Office.
Two other road sections of the Ilocos Norte-Apayao Road in Ilocos Norte also sustained damage particularly at Km 525+500 which are not passable to all types of vehicle due to slides are also subject to on-going clearing operation and at Km. 520+200 which has a damaged hanging pavement, scoured and washed out slope protection.
He added that field units in the Cordillera Administrative Region are continuously monitoring the clearing of slides by mobilized Disaster Action Teams at Mapalong Section Claveria-Calanasan Road in Apayao Province, which rendered the highway closed to traffic.
Clearing of falling debris with the help of private equipment are also on-going at Ay-ay Section of Acop-Kapangan-Kibungan-Bakun Road in Ampusungan, Bakun, Benguet.
In Central Luzon, two road sections in the Province of Zambales specifically the Allusiis Road Section in San Narciso and Sindol Road Section in San Felipe are not passable to all types of vehicles.
Aside from roads, the roofing material of the DPWH District Engineering Office based in Basco was among the damaged public buildings.
However, all the national roads in the province are passable following the completion of DPWH clearing activities.