Typhoon “Ulysses” caused P4.25 billion worth of damage to roads and other infrastructure, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Friday.
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said 92 national road sections were closed due to landslides, mudflow, debris, fallen trees, and flooding but 40 of them have already been cleared.
“Only 52 road sections remain closed and our target is that by tomorrow, the majority of them will be cleared,” he said.
The affected roads were in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, IV-A, Bicol region, and Eastern Visayas.
Most of the closed roads were in CAR, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon, Villar said.
Of the total affected national roads, 19 have limited access for light to heavy vehicles due to flooding and sediment along bridge approaches.
He said some 3,000 personnel and 483 vehicles were already in position to begin clearing operations.
Affected road sections in CAR were along Claveria-Calanasan Road, Cong Andres Akop Cosalan Road, Gov. Bado Dangwa National Road in Benguet; Banawe-Mayoyao-Alfonso Lista-Isabela Road, Nueva Vizcaya-Ifugao-Mountain Province Road, Kiangan-Tinoc-Buguias Road, Baguio-Bua-Itogo Road in Ifugao; Apayao-Ilocos Norte Road, Conner-Kabugao Road in Apayao; Tabuc-Banawe via Tanudan-Berlig Road and Mt. Province Bdry. Calanan Road in Kalinga; and Jct Talubin-Berlig-Natonin Road, Baguio-Bontoc Road, and Mt. Province-Cagayan Road via Tabuk-Enrile Road in Mt. Province.
Damaged roads in Ilocos and Cagayan Valley Regions were: Manila North Road in Barangay Pancian, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte; Jct. Logac, Magapit Road in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Jct Gattaran Cumao Cappissayan Sta. Margarita Road, Baybayog-Baggao-Dalin Sta. Margarita Road, Cagayan Valley Road in Alcala, Cagayan-Apayao Road, Manila North Road in Cagayan; Cabagan-Sta. Maria Overflow Bridge, Ilagan-Delfin-Albano-Mallig Road in Isabela; Bambang-Kasibu Road in Nueva Vizcaya; and San Pedro Overflow Bridge, Cordon-Aurora Bdry Road in Quirino.
Closed roads in Central Luzon include the following road sections: Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road, Maddela-Dinadiawan Road, and Baler-Casiguran Road in Aurora; Baong Spillway, Labi Bridge, Gabaldon Road in Nueva Ecija; and Sta. Maria Norzagaray Road and Gen. Alejo Santos Highway in Bulacan.
National road sections affected by the typhoon in Region IV-A, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas are the following: Marikina-Infanta Road, Gumaca-Pitogo Road, Lopez-Catanauan Road, Catanuan-Buenavista Road in Quezon; Talisay-Laurel-Agoncillo Road in Batangas; Cavite-Taal Lake Road in Cavite; Nabua-Balatan Road, Milaor-Minalabac Road, Tinambac-Siruma Road in Camarines Sur; Sto. Domingo-Buhatan-Cagraray Circumferential Road in Albay; Catanduanes Circumferential Road in Catanduanes; Talubatib-Jose Panganiban Poblacion-Port Road, Daang Maharlika, Gahonon Road in Camarines Norte and Jaro-Dagami-Lopez Road in Leyte.
The DPWH has installed warning signs and travel advisories on these roads.
Meanwhile, the Nueva Ecija Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the typhoon damaged some P131.87 million worth of rice crops.
The storm also damaged P557,420 worth of onions and P86,809 worth of fruits and vegetables.
The figures were based on initial data from the Office of the Provincial Agriculture as they continue to validate reports coming in to their office.
Initial reports showed that at least 870 families, comprising 3,818 individuals were affected by the typhoon in Nueva Ecija. They were evacuated to various centers in the province.