Infrastructure damage due to Agaton hits P1.45 billion —DPWH

The partial cost of damage to public infrastructure brought by tropical storm Agaton has reached P1.45 billion, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported on Wednesday.

Citing the latest report from the DPWH Bureau of Maintenance, Secretary Roger Mercado said that the damages in Region III was estimated at P1.30 billion with P1.27 billion on roads, and P30 million on bridges.

The DPWH also reported P6.06 million damage to national roads in Region 12, while Region 13 incurred P118.4 million damage to national roads and P27 million to bridges.

Meanwhile, the department said 47 out of the 50 affected roads in the regions of Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas have been cleared and reopened.

It added that DPWH Quick Response Teams are still clearing three remaining closed national road sections in Leyte and Southern Leyte.

In Southern Leyte, the Maasin City - Buenavista Bontoc - Bdry. Hilongos Road (Maasin - Bontoc) in Barangay Lunas is still closed due to road cut; the San Miguel - Conception - Daang Maharlika Road., K1210+415 - K1211+348 is also closed due to hollow abutment; while the Bil-atan, San Ricardo - San Roque, Liloan Road in Brgy. San Roque and Brgy. Malangsa, Liloa-an and in Brgy. San Ramon, San Ricardo, Southern Leyte are also closed due to landslides and rockslides.

Warning signs have been installed while DPWH conducts continuous clearing operations, Mercado said.

Remaining impassable roads severely affected by landslides are targeted for reopening before the end of April 2022, he added.—LDF, GMA News