In time for the Christmas celebration, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reopened 44 national roads after clearing operations were completed in different areas affected by typhoon "Odette."
DPWH Secretary Roger G. Mercado said the Quick Response Teams (QTR) started clearing national roads early this week as motorists were not able to access various roads due to debris or impassable bridges.
He said the focus of the clearing operations now are the damaged roads that are yet to open including one in Palawan and two in Cebu due to damaged bridge, fallen trees and electric posts, debris, and washout revetment.
Road closure was also reported along Irawan-Tagburos Road, at Tagburos Bridge I, K0016+587, Puerto Princesa City due to damaged/collapsed bridge section and damaged bridge approach, fallen trees and utility post.
The Dalaguete-Mantalongon-Badian Road in Brgy. Ablayan and sections in Brgy. Manlapay, Dalaguete, Cebu also remained closed because of soil collapse as well as damaged pavement.
Meanwhile in Santander Santander–Barili-Toledo Road, the Sariling Bridge in Malabuyoc, Cebu and intermittent sections were also rendered impassable due to a damaged bridge, scouring and damaged seawall from strong waves, fallen trees and electric posts, and other debris.
There were four other roads that were deemed hardly-passable including the Balilihan Hanopol-Bayuan Road in Bohol because of flooding; and the Dinagat-Loreto Road Mahayahay, San Jose in Dinagat Islands due to road slip.
The NJR Bah-Bah-Talacogon Road in Brgy. Lucena, Prosperidad in Agusan del Sur sustained a damaged detour road and damaged bridge due to flooding and soil slope collapse, while the NRJ Bayugan-Calaitan-Tandag Road in Brgy. Berseba Bayugan remained closed due to road cuts and sinking/collapsed pavement.