Infrastructure damage in Masbate quake at P23.96M so far —DPWH

Infrastructure damage caused by the 6.6-magnitude earthquake that hit Masbate on Tuesday has reached P23.96 million, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Wednesday.

In a statement, the DPWH said that post-earthquake assessment teams were deployed to the island and have assessed the partial cost of damage to roads at P5.64 million, damage to bridges at P8.96 million, and damage to public buildings at P9.35 million.

Based on the monitoring of the department's Bureau of Maintenance (BOM), the DPWH said national roads and bridges are passable in Masbate Island.

However, it said that the following sections of the Masbate-Cataingan-Placer Road in the town of Uson were damaged:

• Expansion joint of Gahit Bridge at K0070+420 in Cataingan
• Slope protection of the abutments of Nipa Bridge at K0022+080
• Expansion joint of Nabangig Bridge at K0077+150 both in Palanas
• Girder of Pinangapugan Bridge at K0035+040
• Pile cap (jacketing) and slope protection of Impapanan Bridge  at K0022+322
• Girder of Marcella Bridge at K0022+080

“Damage to road pavement were also observed at K0034+920 - K0036+000, Uson; K0070+680, Palanas; K0077+150, Cataingan; and K0085+150 - K0085+250, Placer,” it said.

“The K0075+836 section of Cataingan-Poblacion Road in Barangay Poblacion, Cataingan, Masbate also sustained damage to the box culvert,” it added.

In Camarines Sur, the DPWH assessment team observed minor damage to the bank protection of Panganiban Bridge at K0482+425 in Barangay Nierva, Nabua town.

“The DPWH has installed road warning signs and safety devices along affected sections to guide motoring public,” it said.

The DPWH’s BOM also reported damage to the following public buildings and ports:

• Walls, partitions, tiles and glass door of DPWH Masbate 3rd District Engineering Office Building in Balocawe, Dimasalang
• Damage to columns, walls, and partitions of Palanas Police Station Building in Poblacion, Palanas
• Damage to roofing and firewall of Inocencio Central School Building in Villa-Inonencio, Placer, Cataingan Public Market and Cataingan Port in Poblacion, Cataingan, and Dimasalang Port in Poblacion, Dimasalang town

— Ted Cordero/BM, GMA News