MANILA – The effects of Severe Tropical Storm Crising (international name Wipha) and the enhanced southwest monsoon have so far left over PHP500 million worth of damage to infrastructure, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported Monday.
In an advisory, the DPWH said the partial cost of damage to infrastructure is estimated at PHP526.81 million in Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region as of 6 a.m.
The amount includes damage to national roads, bridges and flood control structures worth PHP195.52 million, PHP9.04 million and PHP322.25 million, respectively.
The amount is still subject to field validation, it added.
Meanwhile, several national road sections remain impassable, including Kennon Road, Camp 6, Tuba, Benguet, due to soil collapse, while three have limited access.
These are the following:
--Apayao (Calanasan)-Ilocos Norte Road, Tanglagan, Calanasan, Apayao, due to due to high water elevation;
--Claveria-Calanasan-Flora-Lasam Road, Barangay Ninoy, Calanasan, Apayao, due to road cut; and
--Liloy-Siocon Road, Tubongon, Baliguian, Zamboanga del Norte, due to a landslide.
The following road sections also have limited access:
--Bigaa-Plaridel via Bulacan and Malolos Road, Barangay Panginay, Balagtas (Bigaa), Bulacan, passable to heavy vehicles only due to flooding;
--Bato Bridge along Amungan – Palauig-Banlog Road, Barangay Bato, Palauig, Zambales, passable light vehicles only as a precautionary measure; and
--Diokno Highway, K0087+020, Batangas, passable to light vehicles only due to road slip.
The DPWH added that 12 national road sections that were closed due to bad weather have been reopened. (PNA)