Infra damage rises to P88M

INFRASTRUCTURE damage from the August 31 7.6-magnitude earthquake in Eastern Visayas has reached P88 million, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office.

Engineer Rolando Asis, DPWH regional director, said initial assessment revealed about P70 million worth of roads and bridges and P18 million worth of school and public buildings were damaged, mostly in Northern and Eastern Samar provinces.

“Aftershocks still continue in Eastern Visayas and we also continue our monitoring all over the region. The damage cost may increase in the next few days,” Asis said in a press conference Friday.

“All bridges with reported damage are now passable but with limited gross tonnage to vehicles. We are still conducting inspections in various areas and waiting for final reports of the district engineering offices,” Asis added.

“In Eastern Samar alone, about P14 million worth of school buildings, hospitals and other public buildings have been reported damaged. Some P4 million worth of public infrastructure were also reported in Samar and Northern Samar. We have yet to finalize the reports of the local disaster risk reduction and management councils in cities and municipalities,” Asis said.

Among those that sustained damage were the Layug Bridge in San Julian, San Pedro Bridge in Quinapondan, Sulat Bridge and road sections in Sulat; approaches and pier of Buyayawon Bridge in Mercedes, deck slab of San Eduardo, Oras, all in Eastern Samar; Caglankay and Maroyondoyon bridges linking Calbayog City and Catarman in Northern Samar.

Though there were no major damage to infrastructure in the region, the DPWH is yet to validate the total cost of restoration of the roads, bridges and government buildings.

Asis said DPWH will utilize regular and maintenance funds in the restoration of damaged infrastructures in the region.

Meanwhile, an assessment team from the DPWH on Thursday found a minor crack on one of the piers of San Juanico Bridge, the steel span connecting the islands of Samar and Leyte. A thorough inspection was conducted on the 42 concrete piers of the bridge.

The DPWH official, however, assured that the 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge, the country’s longest span, is safe. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)