Vital, washed out-bridge in Ilocos Sur restored

By Mar T. Supnad

SAN ESTEBAN, Ilocos Sur — The Department of Public Works and Highways bared recent typhoon destroyed highways worth P150 million but the Manila North Road is now passable after the DPWH’s 2nd engineering district restored the washed-out Bayugao Bridge in Sta. Cruz town early last week.

District Engineer Ray Elaydo said the damage wrought by recent typhoons was still being assessed and that the estimated damage in the Second District alone was for the national road and that various roads in the municipal and villages are also being assessed up to this time.

“We were able to fix the vital bridge in 36 hours only so as not to delay the flow of traffic,” Elaydo said.

Severely hit was the national highway in Santa town, said Elaydo.

The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council headed by Ilocos Sur Gov. Deogracias “DV” Savellano has also reported the destruction of some 1,565 houses and the flooding of 306 villages in the province as typhoon “Pepeng” hit the province that also resulted to the destruction of millions of pesos worth of agricultural products here.

Thousands of residents that were displaced by the typhoon have been evacuated but scrambled for food being provided by the provincial government since they can no longer go out to work and look for food.

Badly hit by the continued rains were the towns of Sinait, Santa, Sta. Catalina, Cabugao, Caoayan, San Vicente, Santiago, and the cities of Vigan and Candon.

Savellano, who personally led the distribution of relief goods to the affected residents, said that a total of 26,620 families have been affected so far and that the number of houses partially damaged was placed at 1,424 while the totally damaged were 141 houses.

Meanwhile, Deputy National Adviser Luis “Chavit” Singson also motored to the province and personally led the rescue mission and distribution of relief goods.

Savellano appealed for relief goods from the national government and other non-government organizations as thousands of displaced people here are in need of food and shelter.