BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Thursday said all national roads leading to Baguio city are passable except Kennon Road, where a road slip at the Benguet side occurred.
DPWH regional director Engineer Khadaffy Tanggol told the Philippine News Agency the department conducts 24-hour operations during calamities.
“We only stop if we see the risk to our people. Rest assured that our personnel are on the ground with equipment of the government as well as those of the private contractors to help in road clearing and opening,” he said.
The director said they have pre-positioned equipment even before the typhoon hit for easier access, and has inventoried available equipment from among the local government units and private contractors so these can be immediately tapped once needed.
DPWH-Cordillera, in a post on its official social media page, said some road sections in the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Mountain Province, and Kalinga are either not passable or have limited access.
In Apayao, the DPWH said two national roads — the Apayao-Ilocos Norte and the Calanasan-Ilocos Norte Road are not passable. The first area was due to a washed-out detour road at the ongoing Annaran bridge construction while the second area is due to the high water along the detour road at the ongoing Tanglagan bridge construction.
“Restoration of the detour road is ongoing,” the agency said.
In Benguet, the road slip at Barangay Twin Peaks has rendered the whole 33 kilometers stretch unpassable.
DPWH advised travelers to use alternate roads like the Marcos Highway, Asin-Nangalisan Road or the Naguilian Road.
In Ifugao, the Banaue, Mayoyao-Alfonso Lista-Isabela Road is not passable due to a series of landslides, collapsed soil or fallen trees.
In lower Kalinga, the Manuel Agyao Boulevard and the Tabuk-Banaue via Tanudan-Barlig Road are limited to light vehicles.
In Upper Kalinga, not passable are the Kalinga-Abra Road, Balbalan-Pinukpuk Road, Mountain Province-Calanan-Pinukpuk-Abbut Road and the Lubuagan-Batong Buhay-Abra boundary road.
In Mountain Province, the Junction Talubin-Barlig Natonin-Paracelis road is not passable, but punch-through open operation is being conducted to clear the road.
“We advise motorists to exercise extreme caution in their travels since clearing works are still ongoing especially along recently punched through open or one-lane road sections,” the DPWH said. (PNA)