MANILA – The government on Monday assured that relief efforts continue despite challenges to reach some communities ravaged by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) as 13 national roads remain not passable.
The Presidential Communications Office said relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts are nonstop.
The challenge, however, is that some areas are still flooded.
“The easiest way of delivering the relief goods are through land transport. The challenge is we need to use rubber boats in order to reach some households,” Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said in a press briefing.
Nepomuceno said relief goods transported via air are using the Bicol International Airport.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan said 13 national roads remained impassable as of noontime Monday — five in Camarines Sur, three in Batangas, two in Pampanga, and one each in Cagayan, Occidental Mindoro and Cebu.
Some roads in Naga are partially passable by heavy vehicles, Bonoan said.
“We are hoping that floods are already subsiding in those areas,” he added.
The DPWH said 86 roads have been cleared as of Sunday.
In the same briefing, Bonoan said the master plan for the Bicol River Basic Flood Control Project was completed in July.
The detailed engineering designs are expected to start next year and the civil works in 2026, he added.
“We’re working with the Korean government and by next year we will undertake the detailed engineering ng mga (for the) flood control projects,’ he said.
He said the South Korean government would finance the project with a soft loan from its official development assistance.
He said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed him to immediately work on the project.
“The President has repeatedly telling us that flood control management should be done integrated and holistically. Engineering solution will not be the only solution to flooding. Kailangan po nating tingnan (We need to look at) environmental issues, social issues,” Bonoan said.
He said the project has an estimated cost of PhP 170 billion.
“The short term solution, starting 2026 up to 2029-2030, almost about PHP50 billion. The medium term will follow, it will cost a little over PHP5 billion and long term including the construction of Sabu Dam in Albay, costs PhP 22 billion,” he said.
“This is only a preliminary estimate on the basis of the feasibility study. The real cost will be known after the detailed engineering design, all in all, PhP 175 billion for now,” he added. (PNA)