Swelling river, landslides close 4 N Luzon roads - DPWH

MANILA, Philippines - Landslides and floods caused by typhoon Igme closed four major road networks in Northern Luzon, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said. Affected by landslides were the Baay Bridge along Abra-Kalinga road; Ambalading section and Salacoop Bridge along the Acop-Kapangan-Bakun Road and Man-Sok section of Abatan-Buguias-Kabayan in the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR). DPWH Bureau of Maintenance Director Luis Mamitag also said that the boulderslides and swelling of the Baay river forced the agency to declare the three CAR road networks unpassable. In the Ilocos region, the DPWH said closed the Junction Santiago-Banayohyo-Lidlidda-San Emilio Quirino Road due to landslide, Mamitag said. The DPWH official said maintenance and clearing works on the closed down road networks are now being fast-tracked on orders of DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. "The DPWH regional and district disaster maintenance crew are now deployed and conducting clearing operations, warning and directional signs are also installed to warn motorists," Mamitag said. In the south, the DPWH said that the Awang-Upi-Labak Road, Olandang and Datu Sajid Piang Bridge on Midsayap-Makar road in northern Mindanao remained closed because of flooding. Reports at the DPWH said that the region 12 office has already deployed maintenance crew and barge that are equipped with backhoe and floater to conduct machine clearing operations. The same reports that the portion of the national road along Brgy. Victoria and Daap in Zamboanga City is now passable following the construction of a temporary diversion road to assure continuous flow of traffic. - GMANews.TV