DPWH: Road from Dumaguete to Guihulngan now passable

Published February 15, 2012 9:17am

One week after a magnitude-6.9 quake jolted Negros Oriental province, government teams have cleared the road between the cities of Dumaguete City and Guihulngan.

The Department of Public Works and Highways said Tuesday it has completed the repair and restoration works on the damaged road sections.

In a news release, the DPWH also said it has repaired 14 out of 20 bridges damaged by the quake, with the remaining six bridges needing reconstruction.

For now, the DPWH has constructed detours while the construction of spillway at Pangaloan Bridge in Jimalalud is ongoing.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said passenger buses and trucks are now passing this route, facilitating the delivery of relief services and food supplies to the earthquake-hit areas.

These include the towns of Ayungon, Tayasan, Jimalalud, La Libertad and Guihulngan City.

The restored bridges include:

Oyangon RCDG Bridge, Calag-Calag Bridge, Anibiong Bridge, Tampocon Bridge, Ayungon Bridge, Iniban Bridge I and Iniban Bridge II in Ayungon;
San Jose SPG Bridge and Jimalalud Bridge in Jimalalalud;
Bateria SPG Bridge, Tinayunan Bridge, P. Zamora Bridge and Habag Bridge in Guihulngan; and
La Libertad Bridge and Malaiba Bridge in La Libertad.

Singson said DPWH engineers and maintenance crews from district engineering offices in Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental are working to restore traffic in the area.

Guihulngan structures

DPWH inspection teams have conducted an assessment on Guihulngan public market and found this structurally sound.

The old building of Guihulngan District Hospital, Justice Building and Land Bank building in Guihulngan are recommended for reconstruction and retrofitting, added Sinson.

Also found to have been partially damaged is the DPWH Negros first district Engineering Office in Guihulgan City.

The DPWH also recommended the reconstruction of collapsed flood control structures located from Ayungon down to Vallehermoso in Negros Oriental. — RSJ, GMA News

Tags: visayasearthquake, imreadylindol, negrosoriental, dumaguetecity, guihulngancity