The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Monday, Feb. 22 bared that two national road sections in Region 13 (Caraga) were rendered impassable by Tropical Storm "Auring".
Citing a report from the Bureau of Maintenance, DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar said that one of the affected sections is the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road, K1362+689 Hubo Bridge in San Agustin, Tandag City, Surigao del Sur which has a scoured slope protection.
"The road will remain impassable until the water level in the area has subsided. In the meantime, the DPWH maintenance crew in the area have installed road safety devices to warn motorists/pedestrians," read the advisory sent by the agency to reporters.
The Dinagat – Loreto Road K0014+600 section is also closed due to road slip, the agency said. DPWH has installed barricades and signages for the safety of the public and avoid further damage on the road.
Meanwhile, Auring-affected road sections in Negros Occidental, Agusan del Norte along Agusan-Misamis road, and other sections of Surigao-Davao Coastal Road are now one-lane, if not two-lane passable.
In preparation for Tropical Storm Auring, Secretary Villar said that DPWH Quick Response Teams have prepositioned a total of 4,432 maintenance crew with 818 clearing operations equipment in Regions 4-A, 4-B, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, and 13 and has so far deployed a total of total of 1,055 personnel with 239 equipment in Region 10, 11, 12, and 13.