DOTr suspends PNR's Naga-Legazpi route amid 'Uwan' damage
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has temporarily suspended train operations between the cities of Naga in Camarines Sur province and Legazpi in Albay after a bridge was damaged by Typhoon Uwan.
The bridge, which connects the barangays of San Rafael and Maipon in Guinobatan, Albay, nearly collapsed due to strong winds and heavy rain brought by Uwan on Sunday, Nov. 9.
In a statement on Monday, Nov. 10, Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said he has ordered Philippine National Railways (PNR) to conduct an immediate assessment of the bridge to determine the extent of damage and ensure safety before resuming operations.
Lopez, however, said that PNR engineers are still on standby, as weather and safety conditions are not yet conducive for carrying out the evaluation.
Pending completion of the assessment and subsequent repair works, operations of the Naga-Legazpi route will remain suspended.
The DOTr said this vital route serves around 400 passengers daily.
Lopez also said that he has instructed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to increase public utility vehicles (PUVs) plying the area to accommodate affected PNR passengers.
PNR, meanwhile, stated that it will also conduct an inspection of the entire Bicol commuter train route to verify if other structures sustained any damage.
It has advised the public to stay away from the bridge to ensure their safety.
“The DOTr and PNR will continue to provide updates once the assessment has been completed,” said Lopez.
Just over a year ago, PNR also suspended operations in Bicol Region following the onslaught of Typhoon Kristine, which caused heavy flooding that damaged rail tracks and stations.
Operations only resumed in February after more than three months of repair and rehabilitation work.
The following month, train services were suspended for a day after a fuel tanker collided with a PNR inspection train.
Separately, the DOTr announced free rides for Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), and LRT-2 until Tuesday, Nov. 11, to provide relief for passengers affected by the storm.
In addition, Lopez has directed the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to grant toll-free access for vehicles responding to emergency and rescue operations that need to use expressways.
Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has already suspended the collection of roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) terminal fees for vehicles delivering rescue equipment and relief goods to areas affected by Typhoon Uwan.
Cargo fees were also waived for local airlines transporting aid to typhoon-affected residents.