SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office and the district engineering office have advised commuters and travelers to take precautionary measures as there are roads and bridges here that are still being cleared of debris.

Barangay Balidbid (K0 362+930), Salcedo, Ilocos Sur on going clearing operations. (Photo courtesy of Engr. Josie Garcia-Oamar)

As of Friday, the Ilocos Sur Second District Engineering Office said that Barangay Balidbid (K0 362+930), Salcedo, Ilocos Sur along Junction Candon- Salcedo-del Pillar Road is still closed to traffic.

The said road was closed due to big chunks of boulders and soil that cascaded down from the mountain slopes.

The DPWH and the engineering office continue to conduct detailed assessment on all affected/damaged infrastructures and ongoing preparation of the Program of Works after the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck northern Luzon on July 26.

Ilocos Sur 2nd DEO is exerting its effort together with Ilocos Sur 1st DEO equipment and LGU-Salcedo and Gregorio del Pilar in the clearing operations.

According to DPWH officials, the boulders were so huge that they had to break them using dynamite.

“Kailangan pa gamitan ng dinamita para maclear ang lugar,” said Engr. Josie Garcia-Oamar, chief of DPWH Regional Office 1, and Maintenance Management Section.

There is no alternate route since San Emilio-Del Pilar Road is also closed due to frequent landslides in the area and ongoing simultaneous clearing operations.

The La Union Second DEO noted that San Luis Bridge 2 (K0220+759) along Rosario-Pugo Road is passable only for vehicles of up to 10 tons. Vehicles above 10 tons may take Manila North Road/Agoo-Baguio City Road and vice versa.

La Union 2nd DEO is monitoring the damaged bridge, and is coordinating with LGU Pugo and Rosario, La Union for load limit restriction implementation and traffic control.

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Some roads, bridges still impassable in Ilocos Region due to landslides -- DPWH