The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) has instructed district engineering offices (DEO) to set up an emergency and clearing operation team to prepare for the possible effect of tropical storm “Paeng” that is targeting the region.
As early as 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 28, the DPWH Eastern Samar DEO released a road advisory advising motorists and travelers to avoid public roads that are prone to landslides and flooding.
“This is to inform the public that the road section at BINALOAN, TAFT along national road WRIGHT-TAFT-BORONGAN ROAD will be TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO ALL TYPES OF VEHICLE at 10:00 AM today, October 28, 2022, due to possible occurrence of landslide,” the advisory read.
Motorists going in and out of the province are advised to use the Jct. Buenavista-Lawaan-Marabut Road is an alternate route and the DPWH ESDEO Maintenance Personnel continue the monitoring of road conditions in the province.
Meanwhile, the DPWH Leyte 5th DEO recorded a minor landslide in Tacloban-Baybay South Road along Sitio Pamotosan in Barangay Makinhas, Baybay City, Leyte.
The road is not passable to light vehicles while clearing operations are ongoing.
Some roads were also closed to motorists due to flooding. This includes;
• Ormoc-Baybay-Southern Leyte Boundary Road at Km. 1102+400 to km. 1104+500, Barangay Talisay to Cantandog II, Hilongos, Leyte (depth of 0.5m) • Tacloban-Baybay South Road at km. 1005+100, Barangay Gaas, Baybay City, Leyte (depth of 0.3m)
Due to the westward track of the tropical storm “Paeng” with an international name of Nalgae, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is not ruling out a possible close approach or landfall in Eastern Samar or Northern Samar on Friday afternoon or evening.
In its bulletin issued at 2 p.m. on Friday, PAGASA last spotted Paeng at 155 kilometers (km) east-northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, or 245 km east-southeast of Catarman, Northern Samar.
Signal No. 2 was hoisted over Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Marinduque, the northern portion of Romblon, Quezon including Polillo Islands, the eastern portion of Batangas, the southeastern portion of Laguna, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, and the northern portion of Leyte.