Tropical Storm “Paeng”, which hammered most all parts of the country, left at least P2.09 billion in damage to national roads, bridges and other government infrastructures, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported on Thursday, Nov. 3.
Citing a report from the DPWH Bureau of Maintenance, the partial cost of damage on national roads reached P917.80 million, P523.80 million on national bridges, and P652.76 million on flood control structures.
In Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), damage to infrastructure posted P227.02 million; Region 1 with P58.40 million; Region 2 with P61.03 million; Region 3 with P54.50 million; Region 4-A with P967.09 million; Region 4-B with P130.40 million; Region 5 with P74.83 million; Region 6 with P150.41 million; Regio 7 with P8 million; Region 8 with P60 million; Region 12 with P102.68 million, and BARMM with P200 million.
As of 6 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3, still, 24 road sections in CAR, Regions 2, 3, 4-A, 6, 8, 12, and BARMM are closed to traffic due to damaged pavement/slope protection, road cut, collapsed bridge, damaged bridge approach, flooding, and fallen debris, among others.
In Luzon, 12 road sections are still closed to traffic. These are the Claveria - Calanasan - Kabugao Road in Apayao; Congressman Andres Acop Cosalan Road in Benguet; Banaue - Hungduan - Benguet Boundary Road in Ifugao; Lubuagan - Batong Buhay - Abra Boundary Road in Kalinga; Balbalan - Pinukpuk Road, Maling Section also in Kalinga; Manila North Road in Cagayan; Cabagan-Sta. Maria Overflow Bridge and Gamu-Roxas Road Carappigan Bridge, both in Isabela; Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road in Aurora; Talisay-Laurel-Agoncillo Road in Batangas; Tagaytay - Taal Lake Road in Cavite; and the Bantilan Bridge in Sariaya, Quezon.
Meanwhile, six roads and bridges in the Visayas region are still impassable, according to DPWH, including Iloilo-Antique Road Paliwan Bridge, and Bugo-Gen. Fullon Road. Igmataning Bridge and Sibalom-Pis-anan Road, all in Antique; Iloilo Antique Road, Oyungan Bridge, and Guimbal-Igbaras-Tubungan-Leon Road, both in Iloilo; and the Jaro-Dagami-Burauen-La Paz Road in Leyte.
Another six roads and bridges are still closed to traffic in the Mindanao region: the Awang-Upi-Lebak-Kalamansig Palimbang-Sarangani Road, Namat Masla Bridge, and Sen. Ninoy Aquino-Lebak Kalamansig Road, and Isulan Jct-Ninoy Aquino Road, all in Sultan Kudarat; Cotabato-Lanao Road in Matanog, Maguindanao; Highway Tamontaka - Jct Tapian Wharf Road in Datu Odin Sinsuat; and Marbel-Allah Valley-Cotabato Road located in Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao.
However, DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan said concerned DPWH Quick Response Teams were expediting the clearing operations along the remaining impassable roads and bridges.