6 bridges still impassable in Cagayan Valley region

By Freddie G. Lazaro

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan — At least six bridges in the Cagayan Valley region remain impassable after the heavy downpour experienced in the area as super-typhoon “Yolanda” made its exit to the West Philippines Sea, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) reported on Nov. 10.

OCD Region 2 Officer Jane Arianne Torres identified these bridges as the Capatan Overflow Bridge in Tuguegarao City; the Abusag and Bagunot Bridges in Baggao, Cagayan; the Tawwi and Cabasan Bridges in Pennablanca, Cagayan; and the Sta. Maria-Cabagan Overflow Bridge in Cabagan, Isabela province.

OCD officials were monitoring the situation yesterday, particularly along the Cagayan River, as Torres expressed hope that good weather would allow waters to subside much quicker.

However, she still issued an advisory to all residents living in the low-lying areas in Region 2 to take extra precaution and be alert in the event of more heavy rain.

Meanwhile, an operator of the Magat Dam in Ramon, Isabela province allayed fears of a possible overflow of water from the dam caused by heavy rains from the super typhoon.

Engineer Edwin Viernes, Magat Dam operating officer, disclosed that if heavy rains will come, only a small volume of water will be released from one of the dam’s spill gates at a rate of 200 cubic meters per second.

At present, the water inflow of Magat Dam is 1,171 cms with water elevation of 191.90 meters which is far from the 193 meters critical level of elevation.