DPWH bares 2B damage to public infra

LEGAZPI CITY --- Over P2 billion worth of public infrastructures were damaged by floods and landslides spawned by Typhoon Tisoy that hit Bicol on Dec. 2, a top official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bicol said.

Virgilio Eduarte, DPWH Bicol regional director in an interview said the damages wrought by Tisoy were the national road at the Maharlika Highway of the Bicol mainland covering the provinces Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Sorsogon including bridges and flood control structures, which were destroyed by either flooding, storm surges, and landslides.

Albay incurred the most damages with P1.6 billion followed by Camarines Sur, P580 million; Masbate, P430 million; Catanduanes, P6.5 million; and Sorsogon with P4.3 million.

Eduarte said this is an initial report as of 12 noon of Dec. 10. We expect the figures to increase as the reports came initially from four provinces. More are coming,” he added.

He told Bicol Mail that damages to major road networks were mostly due to road slips triggered by either flooding and landslides at the Maharlika Highway from Camarines Sur to Sorsogon,

The report said 48 flood control structures in the region were either destroyed or partially damaged. It included the Legazpi Urban Drainage Project, while for regional bridges, four were reported not passable due to damaged approaches. They are in Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon.

Eduarte said once the reports are completed this will be submitted to the central office for validation and funding.

Meanwhile in Albay damages to provincial infrastructures were placed at P2.5 billon, P1.5 billion of which were damages to flood control and irrigation structures; bridges, P530 million; other infra, P218 million; and slope and seawall protection,P177 million.