‘Maring’ renders 14 nat’l roads in NL impassable

By Ferdinand Patinio 

A total of 15 national roads in three regions in Northern Luzon were closed to all types of vehicles due to the effects of bad weather caused by Severe Tropical Storm Maring although restoration works are ongoing with some opened already as of presstime.
    The Dept. of Public Works and Highways-Bureau of Maintenance (DPWH-BOM) reported Tuesday eight national road sections in Cordillera Administrative Region, four in Ilocos Region and two in Cagayan Valley remained closed to traffic.
Vehicles were not allowed passage due to fallen trees, land and mudslide, flooding, and damage to bridges.
    The affected sections in CAR were Kennon Road, Camp 1, in Tuba, Benguet due to fallen trees and debris flow; Baguio-Bontoc Road section in Caliking Atok, section Half Tunnel in Paoay, and section in Cattubo, Atok, Benguet; the Asin-Nangalisan-San Pascual-La Union Boundary Road section in Lasong and First Tunnel in Sipitan section in Tadiangan, Benguet due to soil collapse.
    Also closed to traffic were the Apayao-Ilocos Norte Road, Butao, Calanasan, Apayao due to landslide; Pico-Lamtang Road, Lamtang, La Trinidad, Benguet due to soil collapse with a fallen tree; Gov. Bado Dangwa national road in Poblacion and Palina, Kibungan, Benguet; Cong. Andres Acop Cosalan Road in Amlimay and in Abatan, Buguias, Benguet; and the Abatan-Mankayan-Cervates Road due to soil collapse.
    In the Ilocos Region, the Manila North Road in Barangay Sacuyya, Santa town and the Bayugao Bridge, Sta Cruz, Ilocos Sur are closed due to landslide and damage, respectively, while the San Juan-San Gabriel Road, and Luna-Bangar Road in La Union were also closed due to landslide and flooding; and the Rosario-Pugo Road, Barangay Ambalite, Pugo, La Union remained closed due to mudslide.
    Meanwhile, the affected road sections in Cagayan Valley are Baybayog-Baggao-Dalun-Sta. Margarita Road, Abusag Overflow Bridge, in Cagayan and Cabagan-Sta. Maria Overflow Bridge, Cabagan Sta. Maria, Isabela both due to high water elevation.
    The DPWH-BOM also reported several roads with limited access due to flooding in Ilocos Region.
    On the other hand, roads that are only accessible to heavy vehicles include the Manila North Road in Sta. Cruz-Sta. Lucia Boundary, in Candon, in Barangay Baliw Daya, Sta. Maria and in Barangay Nanguneg, Narvacan, in the province of Ilocos Sur; and Manila North Road, in La Union. – PNA