Some bridges in Odette-hit areas remain impassable —DPWH

A number of damaged bridges in areas affected by Typhoon Odette have remained not passable to vehicles, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Wednesday.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, DPWH Secretary Roger Mercado said the repair of the severely damaged bridges would take at least a week.

“All highways and roads are passable already except ‘yung talagang na-damage na mga tulay na wala tayong magawa but to make palliative solution itong pagkukumpuni muna ng temporary bridge,” he said.

(All highways and roads are passable already except those damaged bridges, and we can't do anything immediately about the situation but only palliative solution by setting up temporary bridges.)

According to him, the damaged bridges were reported in Palawan, Siargao, Dinagat Islands, Southern Leyte, and Negros Occidental.

“Maybe in the next one or two days, passable na rin ito (they will be passable),” he said.

Around 90% of national roads and highways in the affected areas are now passable, Mercado said.

Meanwhile, he said the DPWH has already activated its command centers in affected areas that are managed by personnel from communication, maintenance, construction, and finance departments.

A total of P227,107,000 in damage to infrastructure due to Odette has been reported, the  National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Wednesday. —LBG, GMA News