Goring’s infra damage up to P442.34 million –DPWH

Infrastructure damage caused by Typhoon Goring, which enhanced the Southwest Monsoon, rose to nearly half a billion pesos, the Department of Public Works and Highways said Saturday.

In its report as of September 2, the DPWH said the estimated damage to roads, bridges, and flood-control structures stood at P442.34 million in Regions I, II, and IV-B.

Broken down, damage to roads amounted to P146.28 million, while damage to bridges and flood-control structures totaled P14.68 million and P281.38 million, respectively.

The DPWH said four roads in the Cordillera Administrative Region and three roads in the Ilocos Region remained impassable due to pavement sinking, roadcuts, landslides, and scoured bridge abutments “brought by Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Tropical Cyclone ‘Goring’.”

Nevertheless, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the agency reopened 26 roads and was working on clearing the following sections that are closed to all types of vehicles:

• Abra-Ilocos Norte Road, San Gregorio, La Paz, Abra due to sinking pavement
• Kennon Road, Camp One, T uba, Benguet as precautionary measure
• Claveria-Calanasan-Kabugao Road, sections in Brgy. Namaltugan and Brgy. Ninoy, Calanasan, Apayao due to road cut, collapsed pavement
• Dantay Sagada Road, Brgy. Antadao, Sagada, Mt. Province due to road cut, collapsed pavement
• Ilocos Norte -Apayao Road, Brgy. Maananteng, Solsona, Ilocos Norte due to landslides
• Roxas Bridge, Vigan-San Vicente Road in Ilocos Sur due to scoured bridge abutment
• Pangasinan- Nueva Vizcaya Road, Brgy. Malico, San Nicolas, Pangasinan due to soil collapse

The Public Works Department said two roads in Ilocos Sur and Batangas had one lane passable to light vehicles only: Vigan Bridge 1 and 2 along Bantay-Vigan Road in Brgy. 1, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, due to damaged abutment protection and bridge approach; and Nasugbu-Lian-Calatagan Road, Brgy. Puting Kahoy, Lian, Batangas, due to scoured shoulder and roadcut/collapsed pavement. — DVM, GMA Integrated News