At least 22 national roads in five regions have been rendered impassable due to the onslaught of Tropical Storm "Paeng", the Department of Public Works and Highways reported on Saturday, Oct. 29.
DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan said he instructed all regional offices to augment personnel and equipment resources in all affected areas that include Regions 2, 6, 8, 12, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“The public rests assured that we in DPWH will do our best to restore safer travel for motorists and to facilitate faster response,” said Bonoan in a press statement.
DPWH Bureau of Maintenance (DPWH-BOM) identified the affected roads as the Manila North Road, (K0611+680) Claveria Bridge detour in Cagayan due to damaged bridge approach; Cabagan-Sta. Maria Overflow Bridge in Isabela due to high water elevation; La Conwap Detour Road, La Conwap River along Jct Abbag-Nagtipunan-Nueva Vizcaya Road (via Dupax), K0442+820 in Quirino due to high water elevation.
In the Visayas were the Aklan East Road (S00322PN), K0276+(-400) Kalibo Bridge Approach A in Aklan due to damaged bridge approach; Bugasong-Valderrama Road Bulan-Bulan Bridge K0138+137 Brgy. Bagtason, Valderrama, Antique due to high water elevation; Jct. National-Cuartero- Maindang-Tapulang-Maayon Road, S00463PN K0112+267- K0120+357 in Capiz due to flooding; Sigma-Mambusao-Jamindan Road, sections in Barangay Tugas and from Barangay Tumalalod to Barangay Caidquid, in Mambusao, Capiz due to flooding; Iloilo-Capiz Road (Old route) Brgy. Santo Angel to Brgy. Sto. Niño, Dumalag, and Brgy. Angub Cuartero in Capiz due to flooding; Iloilo-Capiz Road (New Route), sections in Daghayon Sigma and Poblacion Sigma due to flooding; JNR Cuartero Maindang Tapulang Rd. K0097+750 - K0099+500 Poblacion, Cuartero due to flooding; Dao By Pass Road, K0084+000 - K085+500, Brgy. Poblacion to Balucuan, Dao, Capiz due to flooding; Biliran-Naval Road Section, K1008+(-986) - K1026+000, Catmon Detour Bridge, K1019+581 and Caraycaray Detour Bridge, K1023+750 due to flooding.
Also closed were the Jaro-Dagami-Burauen-La Paz Rd K0975+-000 - K0986+866 Brgy. Moguing, Burauen, Leyte, Marabong Bridge due to settlement of pier; Wright-Taft-Borongan Road (K0861+(-459) - K0890+175) in Eastern Samar due to possible occurrence of landslide; San Policarpio-Arteche- Lapinig Road, K0858+000 - K0859+000, Brgy. Talolora, Palapag N. Samar due to rockfall; Catarman-Calbayog Rd K0744+(-154) - K0781+751 in Northern Samar due to flooding; Pangpang-Palapag-Mapanas- Gamay-Lapinig Rd, K0810+600 - K0810+700, Brgy. Nipa, Palapag, N. Samar due to landslide.
In Mindanao were the Davao-Cotabato Road, K1710+760, Buluan Bridge I, Brgy Manuangan, Pigcawayan, Cotabato due to flooding; Cotabato-Lanao Road, K1878 + 359, Nituan Bridge, Parang, Maguindanao due to collapsed bridge approach; Ledepan Bridge, Highway Tamontaka - Jct Tapian Wharf Road, Brgy Badak, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao due to collapased bridge; Tamontaka - Jct Tapian Wharf Road, K1857+000, Brgy. Badak, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao due to soil erosion; and Simuay Landasan-Parang Road, Tapayan Bridge, K1869 + 224, Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao due to scoured bridge approach.
Meanwhile, seven national roads have limited access according to DPWH, namely: Iloilo East Coast Capiz Road, K0223+000 - K0223+100, Brgy. Malayu an, Ajuy, Iloilo due to flooding; Biliran-Naval Road Section, K121+700 in Biliran due to flooding; Naval-Almeria Road Section K1026+000 - K1038+000, K1029+800, Brgy. Sabang in Biliran due to flooding; Naval-Caibiran Cross Country Road K1026+(-096) -K1045+536, Brgy. Lucson, K1033+900 in Biliran due to flooding; Ormoc-Baybay -Southern Leyte Boundary Road, K1016+(-421) - K1023+094 in Leyte due to flooding; and, Bato-Bontoc Road, K1107+(- 1154) - K1121+170, Brgy. Anahawan in Leyte due to flooding; and, Awang-Upi-Lebak- KalamansigPalimbang- Sarangani Road in Brgy Bolebak to Brgy Pansud, Leba, Sebayor Bridge VI in Brgy Sta Clara, Kalamansig, and Baranayan Bridge (Approach B), in Brgy Baranayan, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat due to soil collapse and scoured bridge approach.