BANGUED, Abra – The Department of Public Works and Highways together with the engineering offices of the local government units in the province are doubling efforts to open more roads for easier delivery of relief assistance to Abrenian families affected by Typhoon Egay. Latest report from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) shows there are still 38 road sections that are unpassable and five road sections that are passable but for light vehicles only.
The road networks were affected by at least three major landslides; 37 minor landslides, rockslides, and mudslides; and 18 swollen rivers, spillways, and creeks due to the torrential rains and strong winds brought by the typhoon.Provincial Administrator and Incident Command System head Michael Ronald Bersamira said the DPWH with the Provincial Engineering Office and the different municipal engineering offices are exerting all efforts to clear or punch through the closed road sections except those that are heavily damaged that need rehabilitation.
The DPWH reported total clearing operations along national roads particularly road sections of the Abra-Ilocos Norte Road and Abra-Kalinga Road.Assessment of both roads was also undertaken to ensure the safety of travelers and trucks that will deliver relief support to typhoon-affected communities.
Continuous clearing operations of local roads and communities affected by flooding and landslides are also being conducted by the different municipal DRRM councils and volunteers to reach barangays in at least five municipalities.Sitio Mausok in Barangay Poblacion and Barangay Palang in San Quintin; and barangays Bazar and Sallapadan Barrio in Sallapadan are now accessible after being isolated for at least five days.
The PDRRMC reported the estimated cost of damage of national roads, bridges, and flood controls reached P1,506,638,765.77. This includes 40 road sections, one bridge, and 24 flood control structures.Farm-to-market roads, barangay, and municipal roads incurred more than P424 million estimated cost of damage while provincial roads reached more than P158.8M in damage.
Damage on local bridges were estimated at more than P190M.With the continuous effort to make roads passable, more barangays are now accessible for swift delivery of disaster response and relief assistance.
Air assets including a Blackhawk helicopter and a civilian chopper are being used to reach the still isolated areas in the province. – Jamie Joie Malingan