Damage to infrastructure caused by the onslaught of Typhoon Egay and the enhanced southwest monsoon in Region 3 (Central Luzon) was initially estimated at PHP1.9 billion. Based on the consolidated Calamity Damaged Infrastructure Report of the Department of Public Works and Highways – Region 3 Maintenance Division on Wednesday, the province of Tarlac incurred the highest amount of damage at PHP1.46 billion due to the impairment of flood control structures along major riverways such as the Camiling, Lucung, Rio Chico, Parua, and O’ Donnel rivers. DPWH Regional Director Roseller Tolentino said district engineering offices which were primarily affected by the increased volume of water flowing in river channels observed collapsed revetment structures and damage to slope protection, leading to the saturation and weakening of embankments, particularly in Tarlac and Zambales, where the torrential rains impacted the concrete flood control walls. ‘Reports have indicated that the impact of floodwater significantly exacerbated the potholes along national roads, particularly on the Bulacan section of the Manila North Road and the Roman Expressway in Bataan,’ Tolentino said in a statement. He directed the district engineers in the region to expedite road restoration efforts and conduct a comprehensive assessment of all structures to ensure public safety. In its advisory, as of 11 a.m. Wednesday, there were still some roads in Pampanga that were not yet passable due to floods. The Candaba-San Miguel Road in Barangays Paralaya and Mangumbali in Candaba and the Apalit-Macabebe-Masantol Road in Barangay San Gabriel, Macabebe town are still not passable to all types of vehicles. Meanwhile, the roads that are passable only to heavy vehicles are the Sto. Tomas-Minalin Road in Barangays Tacasa and Telacsan, Macabebe and in Barangays San Vicente and San Bartolome in Sto. Tomas; Bahay Pare-San Luis-Sto. Domingo Road in Barangay Sta. Monica, San Luis; Sto. Tomas-Minalin Road (Tail Dike Section) in Barangay Sta. Rita and Sta. Catalina, Minalin; and San Simon- Baliwag Road in Barangay San Miguel, San Simon
Source: Philippines News Agency
