‘Pablo’ leaves P171-M road damage in Mindanao – DPWH

MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon “Pablo” (international name Bopha) has left at least P171 million worth of damages to roads and highways in Mindanao alone, the Department of Public Works and highways (DPWH) said Wednesday.

In an advisory released by the DPWH Bureau of Maintenance, at least seven roads and bridges were damaged and rendered impassable because of the typhoon.

The Tal-uban Bridge along the Cagayan de Oro-Dominorog-Camp Kibakitan Road in Bukidnon Province had collapsed portions while the Cagayan de Oro-Talakag-Bukidnon Road was closed because of fallen trees, DPWH said.

In Compostela Valley, the Cateel-Compostela Road has been closed due to landslides while the Talian Bridge along the Montevista-Compostela-New Bataan-Maragusan-Mati Road suffered damages making it impassable.

In Davao Oriental, five spans out of 17 of the Governor Teodoro Palma Gil Bridge (Manurigao) had collapsed making it impassable, while the Mati-Maragusan Road has been closed due to landslides.

Fallen trees and electric poles have forced the closure of the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road in Surigao Del Sur, DPWH said.

“DPWH Regional Offices have deployed emergency crew and equipment to conduct clearing and emergency repair works. Warning signs are installed to inform the motorists,” DPWH said.

More than 200 people have been reported dead due to typhoon Pablo with hundreds more injured and missing. Pablo is said to be the strongest typhoon that has hit the country for 2012.

Pablo was spotted 110 kilometers northwest of Roxas, northern Palawan and was moving Northwest at 15 kilometers per hour towards the West Philippine Sea, according to the 5 p.m. weather bulletin from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Pablo is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday, Pagasa said.