PH Army engineers race to reopen roads, reconnect typhoon-hit towns
Personnel of the Philippine Army's (PA) 53rd Engineer Brigade conduct clearing efforts in Liloan, Cebu. in the aftermath of Typhoon "Tino." (Photo: PA)
Philippine Army (PA) engineer units are working non-stop to reopen blocked roads and reconnect isolated communities in Aurora and Cebu in the wake of two devastating storms that struck the country, a military spokesperson said Wednesday, Nov. 12.
In Aurora, where Super Typhoon “Uwan” made landfall on Nov. 9, teams from the Combat Engineer Regiment (CER) have been conducting rescue and road-clearing operations around the clock since Nov. 10, according to PA spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala.
The soldiers braved knee-deep mud and landslide debris to clear major access routes in Barangay Bacong, San Luis, and Barangay Amper, Dipaculao.
The latest report from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) placed Uwan’s death toll at 27.
Ifugao, which had nine deaths, Benguet with four; Mountain Province, Kalinga, and Nueva Vizcaya which had three fatalities apiece, were the provinces that had the highest human toll.
Meanwhile in Cebu, the 53rd Engineer Brigade was deployed to Liloan to continue rehabilitation works in areas that bore the brunt of Typhoon “Tino”, which ravaged the Visayas.
Floodwaters and landslides destroyed portions of the town’s road network and submerged entire neighborhoods at the height of the typhoon.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that Tino left 232 people dead and 112 missing. Cebu recorded 150 fatalities, the highest in the country.
Soldiers in Liloan were repairing washed-out roads and assisting local authorities in rebuilding drainage lines to prevent further flooding, Dema-ala said.
He noted that the Army remains fully engaged in post-disaster recovery operations, assuring residents of continued assistance in both Uwan and Tino-affected communities.
“The Philippine Army assures the affected communities and families that they can count on the strong, dependable, and committed soldiers in the subsequent post-typhoon relief and recovery efforts,” he stressed.