The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has prepositioned its Regional and District Disaster and Incident Management Teams (DPWH-DIMT) to respond to the potential impact of Severe Tropical Storm Pepito, which is expected to make landfall this weekend.
DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan said that teams are now under Blue Alert, signifying readiness for a full-scale disaster management wherein all resources are activated and made available for deployment.
Meanwhile, teams in the Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley Region are still under Red Alert, as they continue ongoing clearing operations following the effects of previous tropical cyclones Nika and Ofel.
As of 12:00 noon, Friday, November 15, 2024, three national roads remain impassable due to landslides and a damaged bridge approach caused by recent weather disturbances.
The DPWH Bureau of Maintenance identified the following affected road sections in Ifugao and Cagayan as:
1. Banaue-Hungduan-Benguet Boundary Road in Tukucan, Tinoc, Ifugao due to landslide.
2. Dugo-San Vicente Road (Mission-Sta Ana Section) San Jose Bridge, San Jose, Gonzaga, Cagayan due to washed out bridge approach/road cut.
3. Cagayan-Apayao Road, Itawes Overflow Bridge, Sta Barbara, Piat, Cagayan due to scoured bridge approach.
Partial cost of damages from Nika and Ofel now amounts to P464.06 million, from 143.40 million damaged CAR roads and P320.66 million damaged Region 3 flood control structures, still subject for field validation.