Technical engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways are on the ground to check the structural integrity of major roads, bridges and other public buildings affected by series of earthquake that jolted southern Philippines in less than a month.
DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar sent Undersecretary for Mindanao Operations Dimas S. Soguilon to Davao and Cotabato to lead in the assessment of situation and deployment of quick response teams.
With strong groundshaking felt anew on Thursday, October 31, 2019, a team composed of bridge engineers from the Regional Office 11 and the Davao City District Engineering Office (DEO) inspected Bolton Bridge II along Quimpo Boulevard which is a major connector crossing Davao River for possible earthquake damage.
According to a report from DPWH Region 11, minor cracks in the bridge superstructure were found and access of vehicles was immediately limited to 15 to 20 tons capacity for the time being until fully repaired.
In Davao Del Sur, District Engineer Nicomedes Parilla reported the temporary partial closure of two (2) out of four (4) lanes of Matanao bridge along Davao-Cotabato road, Matanao Section due to visible cracks in the deckslab.
On schoolbuildings, Undersecretary Soguilon together with DPWH Region 11 Director Allan S. Borromeo have inspected the earthquake damaged school buildings of Kasuga National Highschool in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur.
DPWH Regional and DEOs will continue with the assessment of all national roads and bridges and schoolbuildings as per directive of Secretary Villar.
The DEOs have also accepted requests coming from other government agencies and private individuals for structural inspections of their respective buildings.