Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan placed its District Disaster and Incident Management (DPWH-DDIM) teams in Northern Luzon on Friday under “blue alert” in light of Typhoon ‘Pepito.’
The teams were tasked to respond to the potential impact of the latest storm, which is expected to make landfall this weekend.
Bonoan said the DPWH-DDIM teams were under “Blue Alert,” signifying readiness for a full-scale disaster management where all resources are activated and made available for deployment.
Meanwhile, teams in the Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley are still under Red Alert, as they continue ongoing clearing operations following the effects of previous tropical cyclones ‘Nika’ and ‘Ofel.’
As of Friday, three national roads remain impassable due to landslides and a damaged bridge approach caused by recent weather disturbances.
The DPWH Bureau of Maintenance identified the following affected road sections in Ifugao and Cagayan as Banaue-Hungduan-Benguet Boundary Road in Tukucan, Tinoc, Ifugao due to landslide, Dugo-San Vicente Road (Mission-Sta Ana Section) San Jose Bridge, San Jose, Gonzaga, Cagayan due to washed out bridge approach/road cut, and Cagayan-Apayao Road, Itawes Overflow Bridge, Sta Barbara, Piat, Cagayan due to scoured bridge approach.
Partial cost of damages from ‘Nika’ and ‘Ofel’ now amounts to P464.06 million from 143.40 million; damaged CAR roads estimated at P320.66 million, and damaged flood control structures in Central Luzon are still subject for field validation.
