Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar said super typhoon Rolly’s estimated cost of damage to public infrastructure has reached P5.756 billion.
Villar cited the P1.515 billion damage to roads, P458.2 million damage to bridges, P2.036 billion damage to flood-control structures, P367.25 million damage to public buildings, and P1.379 billion to other infrastructure.
“As expected, our assessment teams identified majority of the destruction in Bicol region amounting to P4.621 billion”, said Villar.
The DPWH Bicol Region has also reported the closed roads in Catanduanes which was previously isolated and unreachable due to province-wide power outage and unavailable telecommunication during the onslaught of super typhoon Rolly.
Impassable roads in Catanduanes include the intermittent sections of Catanduanes Circumferential Road due to landslides and fallen trees specifically along parts of Brgy. Balongbong, Bato, Brgy. Libod, Pandan, Brgy. Putting Baybay, San Andres, and Brgy. Francia, Virac to Brgy. Balongbong, Bato. Also closed are Jct. Bato-Baras Road and Baras–Gigmoto–Viga Road due to fallen electrical posts.
“DPWH quick response teams are fast-tracking clearing operations along the affected road sections in the island as we have no alternative routes as of the moment. These roads must to be opened soonest for the relief efforts which Catanduanes badly needs right now,” said Villar.
Aside from the three roads in Catanduanes, five other road closures were reported in Region 5 namely: Tabaco Wharf Road 2, Ligao-Tabaco Road, Matacon Polangui Jct. Rd. section in Albay; Lagonoy-Caramoan Road, RS, Ancolan, Presentacion, and Nabua-Balatan Road in Camarines Sur.
DPWH also identified two remaining closed road section in the Cordillera Administrative Region and Central Luzon namely: Apayao-Ilocos Norte Road, Dibagat, Kabugao, Apayao and Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road Detour Road at Diteki Bridge due to fallen poles, wires, and other debris.
To date, a total of 19 road sections were already cleared and opened by the DPWH quick response teams.