Eighteen national road sections were impassable after super typhoon “Rolly” hit Luzon, the Department of Public Works and Highways said Monday.
In a press briefing, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said the multiple road closure were due to a series of landslides, fallen trees and electric posts, and flooding.
Region 5, which bore the brunt of Rolly last Sunday, have more than 10 impassable road sections while the remaining road closures were in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 3, and Region 4-A.
Three sections of the DM Junction-Legazpi-Sto. Domingo-Tabaco-Tiwi Road in Camarines Sur were impassable due to flooding. Tabaco Wharf Road 1 and 2 were closed due to fallen utility posts.
Monitoring and installation of warning signs are under way, Villar said.
The Polangui, Balangibang, and Sipocot sections of Daang Maharlika in Camarines Sur were impassable due to fallen trees and utility posts. Clearing operations are under way.
Villar said all vehicles going to and from Manila are advised to take the Rolando Andaya Highway as an alternate route.
The Naga City-Carolina-Panicuason Road, Manguiring-Sibobo-Cagsao-Cabanbanan Road, and Milaor-Minalabac-Pili Road in Camarines Sur were closed due to fallen trees and utility posts.
The Lagonoy-Caramoan Road in Ancolan was affected due to fallen trees and electric posts but is now passable for motorcycles only. The Goa-Tinambac Road is now passable for motorcycles but clearing operations are still ongoing due to fallen trees and electric posts.
The San Rafael-Mampirao Road is passable for motorcycles only as the road is being cleared of fallen trees and utility posts.
The Baao-Iriga City-Nabua Road in Iriga City proper remains impassable due to flooding and fallen utility posts while the Donsol-Banuang Gurang Road in Sorsogon is not passable due to flooding and fallen utility posts.
In the Cordillera Administrative Region, the Apayao-Ilocos Norte Road became impassable due to landslide while the Claveria-Calanasas-Cabugao Road is not passable due to soil collapse.
In Central Luzon, the Sto. Tomas-Minalen-Macabebe and Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road were closed due to flash flood and mudslide.
In Region 4-A, the Catanauan-Buenavista Road was closed due to fallen trees.
Villar said they continue to monitor and clear the affected roads while the damage cost to infrastructure is being determined.
A total of 777 heavy equipment, 500 tools and light equipment, and 4,931 personnel were deployed in critical road sections prior to the onslaught of Rolly, the DPWH Secretary added.