Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Sec. Manuel Bonoan ordered on Wednesday, July 27, the deployment of quick response teams to inspect safety of national roads and bridges, as well as other public infrastructure, following a strong earthquake that hit most parts of Luzon.
Bonoan said all the regional and district engineering offices in Luzon, especially near the epicenter, were instructed to check public infrastructure for any damage brought about by the earthquake that could endanger motorists and the general public.
The epicenter of the 7.3 magnitude quake is in Langangilang, Abra.
“Our teams of engineers are conducting assessment to evaluate the structural integrity and damage caused by the earthquake as we simultaneously clear debris along national roads and bridges,” said Bonoan.
Several roads in Cordillera Administrative Region were not passable after they were blocked by rocks and soil when the quake triggered landslides in the region.
Based on the DPWH report, a total of 14 national roads are impassable to traffic due to rock fall, soil collapse, and safety reasons as a result of the earthquake.
Among them were the Abra - Kalinga Road K0437+250 - K0475+000, Intermittent Sections; Abra and at K0474+000 due to soil collapse; Abra - Ilocos Norte Road, K0430+000 section and Calaba Bridge due to settlement of approach; and Abra-Cervantes Road, at Biweng Bridge due to damaged approach.
Other roads in CAR closed to traffic are Kennon Road, Benguet; Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road K0303+100, Bobok Bisal, Bokod due to soil collapse and K0302+700, Poblacion, Bokod due to rock fall in Benguet; Baguio-Itogon Road, Itogon Bridge, K0267+519 due to safety reason; Congressman Andres Acop Cosalan Road, K0318+500, Sitio, Bugao, Brgy. Adaoay, Kabayan, Benguet due to soil collapse; and Gov. Bado Dangwa National Road K0297+200, K0297+800, K0298+400 sections in Beling-belis, Kapangan and K0313+150 section in Poblacion, Kibungan, Benguet due to slope collapse.
Kalinga-Abra Road K0468+860 and K0467+400 in Ableg, Pail, Kalinga, and K0497+000 onwards Abra, Pantikian to Balblasang, Balbalan and Lubuagan-Batong Buhay Road in Upper Kalinga; Banaue-Hungduan-Benguet Boundary Road, K0389+700, Wangwang, Tinoc in Ifugao; and various sections of Baguio - Bontoc Road, Mt. Province-Cagayan via Tabuk - Enrile Road, Mt. Province-Ilocos Sur Road via Kayan Mt. Province-Ilocos Sur Road via Tue all in Mountain Province are also not passable.
Also, seven road sections have limited access in CAR and Region 1 namely Asin Road, K0305+820, Asin, Baguio City; Palispis Marcos Highway, K0273+780, Poblacion, Tuba, Benguet; Baguio-Bontoc Road, Balili Bridge, Benguet; Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya K0254+300, Sitio Lamut, Beckel, La Trinidad, Benguet; Congressman Andres Acop Cosalan Road K0318+800, Sitio, Bugao, Brgy. Adaoay, Kabayan, Benguet; Baguio - Bauang Road, K0296+600 LS, Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet; and Calungbuyan Bridge, Santa Rancho, Santa, Ilocos Sur.