Heavy rains and strong winds brought by Tropical Cyclone ‘Kristine’ have hampered the ongoing clearing operations of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) along the Sibuyan Circumferential Road in Romblon Province while numerous road sections across the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions remain impassable due to flooding.
In its 6:00 AM consolidated report on October 23, 2024, the DPWH Bureau of Maintenance announced that 20 road sections are closed to traffic. The closures are attributed to various causes, including collapsed detour roads, flooding, landslides, fallen trees, and rockslides.
The report lists 15 affected road sections in Region V (Bicol), four (4) in Region VIII (Eastern Visayas), and one (1) in Region IV-B (Mimaropa).
The Sibuyan Circumferential Road in Romblon, where soil collapse and fallen trees have rendered sections K0005+250-K0005+300 in Brgy. Cambijang, Cajidiocan and K0057+650-K0057+660 in Brgy. Poblacion, Magdiwang impassable.
In Albay Province, Bicol Region, the following road sections remain closed due to flooding and soil erosion: DM Jct-Legazpi-Sto. Domingo-Tabaco-Tiwi-Camarines Sur Boundary Road, Nagas Br. 1, K0565+702 – a detour road collapsed due to ongoing bridge work; Albay West Coast Road, Libon – several sections are flooded and soil collapse has occurred; Ligao - Pio Duran Road (S03661LZ) K0520+0250 to 0520+0300, Brgy. Malama and K0503+0800 to K0504+0200 Brgy. Cavasi and Brgy. Tinampo, City of Ligao - flooded; Oas Poblacion Road K0496+(-200)-K0496+0100 and K0497+0000 - K0497+0350 Brgy. Ilaor Norte, Oas - flooded; and Libon-Bacolod-San Vicente-Marocmoc Buga Rd (S03691LZ) K0498+0450 to K0498+0600 Brgy. Bonbon and K0489+0700 to K0490+0000 Brgy. San Isidro, Libon.
In Camarines Norte, flood-affected roads include: Talobatib-Jose Panganiban-Poblacion Road – in various barangays; Sta. Elena - Capalonga Bypass Road, K0268+300, Brgy. San
Lorenzo, Sta. Elena; Bagong Silang-Capalonga Road, K0325+600-K0325+650, Brgy. Mataque and K0317+000, Brgy. Old Camp in Capalonga; and Maharlika Highway K0329+802, Bical Bridge, Brgy. Iberica, K0322+200, Sitio Mineral, Brgy. Talobatib, K0281+000, Brgy. Tigbinan, and K0307+900 - K0308+150, Brgy. Namukanan in Labo.
Additionally, roads in Camarines Sur, Masbate, and Sorsogon are experiencing similar conditions, with sections affected by both flooding and rockslides. These include: Pili-Tigaon-Albay Boundary Road, K0479+000-K0480+000, intermittent sections, Camarines Sur – experiencing both flooding and rockslides; Lagonoy-Presentacion Road, Kinahulugan Section, Bagong Sirang Section, & Adiangao Section) K0488+800 RL, Camarines Sur – flooded; San Fernando North Road, K0015+700, Brgy. Sta. Rosa, San Fernando, Masbate – flooded; San Pascual-Claveria Road, K0054+470, Poblacion 1, Claveria, Masbate – flooded; and Juban-Magallanes Road, K0609+600-K0609+725, Sorsogon – flooded.
In Region VIII, road closures include: Catarman-Calbayog Road, S00004SM), K0776+000, Poblacion Lope De Vega, Northern Samar – flooded; alternate route available via Maharlika Highway through Allen-Catarman Road; Catarman-Laoang Road (S00175SM) K0757+900 - K0758+300 Brgy. Chitongco and K0762+000 - K0763+050 Sitio Banika Brgy. Bugko, Mondragon, Northern Samar – flooded, with water levels reaching 0.91 meters; Calbayog-Catarman Road, K0787+300 - K0789+500 Brgy. Tarabucan, Calbayog City, Samar – flooded, water levels at 0.60 meters; and Pangpang-Palapag-Mapanas-Gamay-Lapinig Road, K0810+500, Brgy. Maragano, Palapag, Northern Samar – blocked by debris flow.
The San Francisco - San Andres - San Narciso Road at K0314+490 in Quezon Province and Masbate-Milagros Rd, K0010+000, Brgy. Usab, Masbate City, Masbate are passable to heavy vehicles only due to flooding.
Other roads in Camarines Sur remain passable but are limited to heavy vehicles due to flooding: Tigaon-Lagonoy Section, K0480+000 - K0488+000, intermittent sections; Tct. Teres - Garchitorena K0545+200; Tinambac - Siruma Road, K0522+050; and Goa-Digdigon-SanIsidro Road, K0488+(-600).
DPWH Quick Response Assets from affected Regional and District Engineering Offices are prepositioned for the clearing operation while Disaster Incident Management Teams are continuously monitoring conditions along other national roads and bridges.