All dams in earthquake-hit areas ‘holding strong’ — NDRRMC

The Ambuklao Dam in Benguet province is one of the country’s clean energy sources. —EV ESPIRITU

MANILA, Philippines — All dams in areas affected by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit Abra and other parts of Luzon are “holding strong,” the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Friday.

NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal made the assurance two days after the powerful Abra earthquake that had left six persons dead so far.

“Good news that all our dams doon sa affected areas are holding strong. Walang na-damage na mga dam natin doon,” Timbal said during the Laging Handa briefing, citing the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

(Good news is that all our dams in the affected areas are holding strong. [So] our dams there were not damaged.)

Timbal also said the NIA also reported that an irrigation infrastructure in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) sustained earthquake damage estimated at P4.5 million.

Timbal said that damage to agricultural crops and machinery had reached P3.8 million.

“Damage to agriculture, this has been tagged at P3.8 million worth of damages. Agricultural machinery, crop areas as a consequence of the earthquake,” Timbal said.

In terms of infrastructure, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported on Friday that earthquake damage cost is now at P396.58 million.

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said that as of 6 a.m., July 29, damage to national roads was at P104.53 million, while damage to national bridges was at P292.05 million.

Bonoan said the data cover damage to infrastructure in CAR, Region 1, and Region 2.

/MUF/abc