City road collapses due to rains

A portion of the Leonard Wood Road in Baguio City collapsed Wednesday morning, July 28. (Baguio City Public Information Office photo)

BAGUIO CITY -- A portion of the Leonard Wood Road here collapsed due to incessant rains last week.
In a Facebook post by the City’s Public Information Office, initial investigation revealed that cracks were noticed at the sidewalk due to swaying of electric post and pine trees.
    “It appears that water penetrated the cracks and the water build-up was not accommodated by the weep holes. The water build-up may have caused the wall to collapse,” the post stated quoting City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.
    City police director Col. Glenn Lonogan said one lane was passable along Leonard Wood and for outbound vehicles only early afternoon.
    Inbound would have to pass through Navy Base.
    On the same day, Work in government offices here was suspended due to strong rains brought by the southwest monsoon.
    “Work shall be temporarily suspended, owing to inclement weather, to safeguard the general welfare of all persons in the city, and to allow our workers and employees to go home early so that they may be secured in their residence as we wait for improved weather conditions,” Magalong said in his executive order.
    The directive covers all local agencies of national government offices not providing critical services subject to clearance from their respective regional or central offices.
    Suspension of work in private establishments and offices shall be the prerogative of the head of the office.

The city and other parts of the Cordillera have been experiencing heavy downpour for over 10 days, causing landslides and floods.