Continuous heavy rains cause damages to several roads and bridges in Region 8

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
November 19, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council and the Department of Public Works and Highways provided a situational report on the roads and bridges which have been affected by the continuous heavy rains in Region 8.

In the province of Biliran, all road sections are passable to traffic. No damages were noted except for washed out surfacing materials and clogged-up waterways.

No damages were reported in the province of Leyte except for the washed out surfacing materials and clogged up waterways in Leyte II.

In Tacloban City, however, although all roads and bridges are passable to traffic, damaged grouted riprap due to flooding has been observed along Maharlika Highway, KM 903+000 at the Nulatula section, while grouted riprap and surfacing materials washed out along Tigbao-Pulak-Sta. Fe section has also been reported. The total estimated cost or repair was placed at P10 million.

In Samar II, roadways were flooded due to clogged up ditches and cross drainages, but all roads are passable to traffic. Declogging of ditches and drainages are now being undertaken.

Eastern Samar appears to be mostly affected by the heavy rains because of the landslide which occurred in the evening of November 13 along the junction of the Buenavista-Lawaan-Marabut Road, KM 995+400 in Barangay Sto. Nino, Quinapondan, Eastern Samar.

The landslide caused the total closure to traffic of the said national road. Vehicles bound for Eastern Samar were directed to take the Wright-Taft-Borongan Road. Warning signs were installed and the DPWH maintenance team undertook emergency removal of debris. On Nov. 14, half lane of the affected road portion was opened to traffic. Estimated cost of the damage was placed at P850,000.

Also in East Samar, along Wright-Taft-Borongan Road, San Julian Road Section, KM 924+721, the DPWH reported damaged slope protection at Bugas Bridge approach with estimated cost of damage placed at P500,000. Said section, however, is passable to all types of vehicles. The DPWH engineering district in Borongan reported that installation of warning signs were already undertaken.

In the second district of Northern Samar, the mainland road network are all passable to traffic. No occurrence of overflowing or landslides were reported except for the observed scouring that has started at the bridges approaches due to increasing flood water in the Bantayan and Dale rivers in San Roque, Northern Samar. The DPWH said that the condition of the two rivers is now closely monitored for possible inundation due to strong currents and increasing water levels.

All roads and bridges within the Northern Samar first district are passable to traffic.

Meanwhile, the Region continuous to experience rains. The Office of Civil Defense reported that a low pressure area was spotted at 80 kms of Northern Mindanao and the difused tail end of a cold front affecting the Bicol Region, will bring cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms beaming widespread rains over the Eastern sections of Visayas and Mindanao.