Motorists are advised that at least five (5) national roads in Eastern Visayas are currently closed to all types of vehicles due to flooding, landslides, fallen trees and debris, and damaged bridge, brought by the heavy rains of Tropical Depression “Agaton”.
Based on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bureau of Maintenance consolidated situational report as of 6:00 AM Monday, April 11, 2022, Secretary Roger G. Mercado identified the following affected road sections: Arteche-Jipapad-Las Navas-Rawis Road in Barangay Bigo, Arteche, Eastern Samar and Sto. Rosario-Villaba Road in Barangay Hibulangan, Villaba, Leyte due to flooding; Tacloban Baybay South Road in Barangay Cuatro de Agosto, Mahaplag, Leyte due to landslide; Daang Maharlika, Sogod-Libagon Section in Southern Leyte due to possible occurrence of landslide or soil erosion; and Abuyog-Silago Road in Barangay Imelda, Silago, Southern Leyte due to landslide.
DPWH Regions 4-A, 8, 10, and 12 also reported a total of nine (9) national roads with limited access which include the Marikina-Infanta Road, K0107+380 in Quezon which is only one-lane passable due to slope collapse and San Francisco-San Ricardo Section in Barangay Manglit, Pintuyan, Southern Leyte which is one-lane passable due to minor landslide with fallen trees.
Five (5) other road sections in Region 8 are only passable to heavy vehicles due to flooding namely: Mainit-San Miguel-Santol Road in Barangay Santol, San Miguel, Leyte due to flooding; Tigbao-Pulak-Sta. Fe Road in Barangay San Isidro, Sta. Fe, Leyte; Calubian-San Isidro-Tabango-Villaba-Palompon Road in Leyte; Tacloban Baybay South Road in Barangay Gaas, Baybay City, Leyte; Ormoc-Baybay-Southern Leyte Boundary Road in Barangay Hipusngo, VSU Market, and Barangay Punta, in Baybay City and Talisay, Hilongos, Leyte.
In Region 10 and 12, the following roads are only one-lane passable: Kapalong-Talaingod- Valencia Road in Lumbayao, Valencia City and Salug Bridge in Barangay San Jose, San Fernando, Bukidnon due to scouring of abutment; and Awang-Upi-Lebak-Kalamansig-Palimbang-Sarangani Road in Barangay Bolebak, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.
DPWH Quick Response Teams have been deployed to monitor or clear affected road sections if weather and road condition permit.
As early as Saturday, April 9, 2022, DPWH Secretary Mercado instructed the activation of DPWH Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Teams of selected Regional and District Engineering Offices composed of 7,067 manpower and 921 equipment to ensure response efficiency to Tropical Depression “Agaton”.