Quick assessment teams of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have inspected at least 1,350 structures in the Cordillera Administrative Region and Ilocos Region, the regions worst hit by the July 27 magnitude 7.0 magnitude quake.
Of the structures inspected, 621 of them were national bridges, 23 were government hospitals, 275 were public school buildings and 417 were other public buildings, according to DPWH Sec. Manuel M. Bonoan.
So far, Bonoan said they restricted the use of 21 structures due to cracks and other damage noticed by the inspection teams.
Based on the DPWH data, the partial cost of damage to roads, bridges, and flood-control structures has now reached P596.7 million—P474.1 million of them are in CAR; P119.5 million in Region 1; P3.1 Million Region 2.
“Our Quick Response Teams are still working on clearing and reopening remaining three national roads that are closed to traffic,” said Bonoan.
They are the Baguio - Bontoc Road K0347+090 - K0347+180 section Mt. Data Cliff, Bauko, Mt. Province due to soil collapse; Mt. Province Boundary - Calanan - Pinukpuk - Abbut Road, K0428+000, Basao, Tinglayan, Kalinga due to soil collapse; and Tagudin - Cervantes Road K0353+100, K0353+500 sections in Ilocos Sur due to landslide and rockslide.
Motorists are also advised on road sections that are only passable to light vehicles for safety reasons including: Tagudin - Cervantes Road, Itogon Bridge, K0267+519, Benguet; Abra - Ilocos Norte Road, K0411+234-K0412+081, Calaba Bridge, Calaba, Bangued, Abra; Rosario - Pugo Road, San Luis Bridge 2, K0220+759 in La Union; and the Dagupan-Bonuan-San Fabian-Road K0380+058 - K0380+182, Dawel Bridge in Pangasinan.