Tacloban City – Teams from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have dispatched teams from other regions that will assist in the ongoing clearing operations in areas badly hit recently by super typhoon Yolanda (international codename: Haiyan) in Eastern Visayas region.
DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said that clearing operations of national roads and bridges in Eastern Visayas has been derailed due to fallen electric posts, trees and other debris brought the recent weather disturbance.
“We have to immediately clear the roads to facilitate rescue and quick response operations,” Singson said.
He said that their personnel in Eastern Visayas despite being victims of the recent calamity that struck the country still continue to do their mandated task.
“Our teams from other DPWH regional and district engineering offices will help them restore immediately the flow of traffic especially along Daang Maharlika or Pan-Philippine Highway,” Singson noted.
He also added that teams consist of engineers from the DPWH head office are already send to conduct assessment on the damage on national roads and bridges and to oversee the construction of bunkhouses and temporary shelters for the typhoon victims.
Initial reports from their ground personnel showed that the San Roque bridge along Palo – Tacloban City has been damaged.
In Western Visayas, the Suage bridge along Iloilo-Capiz road is also not passable.
DPWH Bicol region teams led by Region V Director Danilo Dequito and District Engineer Elmer Redrico have also arrived in Tacloban. The team is composed of engineers, equipment operators, mechanics, and laborers.
Singson noted that Bicol team have brought with them chainsaws, and heavy equipment such as dumptrucks and payloaders to clear the national roads as well as 1,000 packed relief goods.
