Typhoon Goring and ‘Habagat’ Take a Heavy Toll
In the wake of Typhoon Goring and the relentless southwest monsoon, known locally as “habagat,” the Philippines is counting the cost of widespread destruction.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has released staggering figures, revealing that the estimated damage to infrastructure across four regions now stands at an alarming PHP442.34 million.
DPWH Report Highlights Extensive Damage
According to a statement issued by the DPWH on a Saturday, the regions hardest hit by this devastating combination of natural forces include Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, and Mimaropa (encompassing Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan).
Of this total, PHP146.28 million is attributed to road damage, PHP14.68 million to bridges, and a staggering PHP281.38 million to flood-control structures.
Roads and Bridges Bear the Brunt
The DPWH Bureau of Maintenance provided an update, stating that as of 10 a.m. Saturday, several key roadways remain impassable.
Active voice revision: Severe damage has impacted four roads in the Cordillera region and three in the Ilocos region, resulting in issues such as pavement sinking, road cuts, landslides, and scoured bridge abutments. Although authorities have reopened 26 roads to traffic, they have closed critical sections to all types of vehicles.
Critical Road Sections Remain Closed
Among the road sections still off-limits are the Abra-Ilocos Norte Road in San Gregorio, La Paz, Abra, due to pavement sinking.
Kennon Road in Camp One, Tuba, Benguet, is temporarily closed as a precautionary measure. Sections of the Claveria-Calanasan-Kabugao Road in Barangay Namaltugan and Barangay Ninoy, Calanasan, Apayao, have been shut down due to road cuts and collapsed pavement.
Meanwhile, the Dantay Sagada Road in Barangay Antadao, Sagada, Mt. Province, is impassable due to road cuts and collapsed pavement.
Landslides have forced the closure of the Ilocos Norte-Apayao Road in Barangay Maananteng, Solsona, Ilocos Norte.
The Roxas Bridge along the Vigan-San Vicente Road in Ilocos Sur has closed due to a scoured bridge abutment, while soil collapse continues to render the Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya Road in Barangay Malico, San Nicolas, Pangasinan, inaccessible.
Vehicles can currently only pass through one lane at the Vigan Bridge 1 and 2 along Bantay-Vigan Road in Barangay 1, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, due to damaged abutment protection and bridge approach.
Additionally, the Nasugbu-Lian-Calatagan Road in Barangay Puting Kahoy, Lian, Batangas, is partially closed because of a scoured shoulder and road cuts with collapsed pavement.
Ongoing Monsoon Threat
The ongoing southwest monsoon, currently intensifying because of Typhoon Hanna and two other tropical cyclones, Saola and Kirogi, positioned outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), is expected to cause continuous rainfall in the western part of Luzon over the next three days.
Typhoon Hanna Looms Large
As of 11 a.m., the center of Typhoon Hanna was estimated to be 455 km east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes. The province is currently under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as of the time of this report.
Goring’s Super Typhoon Impact
Typhoon Goring recently attained super typhoon status and exited the PAR on August 30, leaving behind a trail of destruction and uncertainty.
Sources: THX News & Philippine News Agency.
