Typhoon Egay closes 24 roads in North Luzon

By Faith Argosino 

Twenty-four roads / highways in Luzon are currently closed due to the effects of Typhoon Egay (international name: Doksuri), which has already left the Philippine area of responsibility, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). 
    In an advisory on Thursday, DPWH announced that it has started clearing the said roads in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos region and Cagayan Valley.
    Below is the list of affected roads / highways:
 Cordillera Administrative Region
    Closed in Abra are Abra-Ilocos Norte,Abra-Ilocos Sur  and Abra-Kalinga roads. 
    In Apayao: Apayao-Ilocos Norte Road, Madduang, Kabugao ,Claveria-Calanasan-Kabugao Road, K0663+900 – K0663+940 Eva section; Intermittent sections in Naguilian, Calanasan, Apayao (Calanasan) – Ilocos Norte Road and intermittent sections in Tanglagan, Calanasan.
    In Benguet, closed were Kennon Road, Camp 6, Tuba, Shilan-Beckel Road and Shilan, La Trinidad Road.
    The Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road, Upper Bakong; Sitio Sabkil sections in Loacan, Itogon were also closed due to mudslide, soil collapse, and fallen trees.
    At press time the Baguio-Bontoc Road and intermittent sections in Abiang, Atok were closed.
    The Abatan-Mankayan-Cervantes Road, Guinaoang, Mankayan were also closed including Gov. Bado Dangwa National Road, Bakun.
    In Mountain Province, closed were Baguio-Bontoc Road, Mt. Data, Bauko section; Gonogon, Bontoc section; Mt. Province-Ilocos Sur via Tue Road; intermittent sections in Balaoa and Cabunagan, Tadian; Mt. Province-Cagayan via Tabuk-Enrile Road, Tigil Section, Betwagan, Sadanga, and Pakkil, Bontoc section due to soil erosion.
    In Ilocos Norte, closed were Laoag-Sarrat-Piddig-Solsona, Manila North Road and Sitio Banquero, Brgy. Pancian, Pagudpud K0472+300 – K0473+100.
    In Ilocos Sur, closed were Tagudin-Cervantes Road, Cervantes-Aluling-Bontoc Road K0387+000, Cervantes-Mankayan-Abatan Road K0391+200, Mt. Province-Ilocos Sur via Kayan Road and Jct. Santiago-Banayoyo-Lidlidda-San Emilio.
    In Cagayan Valley, closed were Manila North Road, Calog Sur, Abulug, Cagayan-Apayao Road, Itawes Bridge.
     Meanwhile, roads with limited access in CAR, Region I, Region II, Region III, and Region IV-B due to flooding and collapsed pavement are as follows:
    Abra-Ilocos Norte Road, Cabaroan, Danglas (one lane passable to light vehicles due to collapsed pavement)
Banaue – Hunduan – Benguet Boundary Road sections in Bokiawan and Abatan, Hungduan, Ifugao (one lane passable to light vehicles due to soil collapse)
    Luna – Bangar Road, K0306+000- K0307+000, La Union (due to flooding)
    Apalit-Macabebe-Masantol Road, Brgy. San Gabriel, Macabebe, (due to flooding)
Calapan South Road, Brgy. Campaasan, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro (passable only to heavy vehicles due to flooding)
    The DPWH said it is actively working to clear road sections. Its Quick Response Teams have successfully cleared and reopened nine areas so far.
    “To date, the estimated partial cost of damage to infrastructure by Super Typhoon Egay is now at P1.54 Billion with breakdown: P419.6 million to roads, P30 million to bridges, P1.07 Billion to flood-control structures, and P20 million to other national government-owned buildings,” the agency said.  -- Bea Alicia Delariarte