AT LEAST nine major road networks in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are undergoing clearing operations according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the region.
Among the nine major roads, Marcos Highway was the hardest hit as the DPWH has advised only light vehicles are allowed to pass through the highway coming to and from Baguio City.
In the weekly Talakayan sa Environment, DPWH-CAR shared the latest situational report of DPWH-Ilocos, the Agoo-Baguio Road, particularly at Barangay Cares Section, Pugo, La Union is passable to light vehicles only due to a damaged pavement.
Heavy vehicles are advised to take the Bauang-Baguio City (Naguilian) Road.
Warning, information signs and barricades have been installed along affected road sections while ongoing backfilling and soil investigation of the area is being conducted by their maintenance crew on 24/7.
Police Chief Inspector James Acod, Tuba Municipal Police Station commander, earlier advised motorists particularly light vehicles the use of an alternate route via the Tubao section leading to San Pascual and Nangalisan section of Asin Road in Tuba, Benguet exiting at the San Vicente Village Barangay in Baguio City.
Clearing operations include road collapses, damaged slope protection, mud and debris flow, as well as flooding while the total cost of damage is still being assessed.
The DPWH Bureau of Maintenance (DPWH-BOM) reported that clearing operations are being undertaken by DPWH field offices which include Kennon Road.
Other roads which the DPWH says are undergoing clearing operations are the Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road in Loacan, Itogon, the Benguet section of the Baguio-Bontoc Road in Cattubo, Atok, Benguet, and the Balitian Section in Bontoc, Mt. Province.
In the Abra-Ilocos Norte Road in Nagaparan, Danglas, Abra, and the Abra-Kalinga Road in Baquero, Nalbuan, Baay--Licuan, Abra.
Other roads being cleared by the public works are the Baguio City Limit-Sto. Tomas Road in Sitio Bandilaan, Cabuyao, Tuba; the Acop-Kapangan-Kibungan-Bakun Road in Bagtangan, Gambang, Bakun, Benguet; the Gurel-Bokod-Kabayan-Buguias-Abatan Road in Abatan, Buguias, and the Tabuk--Banaue Road along the Dumanay Section in Tanudan, Kalinga.