Typhoon delays Baguio road repairs–DPWH

BAGUIO City—An official of the Department of Public Works and Highways said heavy rains dumped by Typhoon “Mina” and unabated monsoon rains have forced contractors to suspend the repairs of national roads in the city.

Cesario Rillera, a DPWH engineer, said the DPWH could not yet determine when work on these roads would resume although the agency believes it could still complete the rehabilitation of 14 national road projects in Baguio by January 2012.

“It would be hard to apply concrete on the road since the rain has not stopped. [Newly poured concrete] can be washed out easily,” he said.

Among the important routes that would be affected by delays are the Loakan Road, the main link to the Philippine Military Academy, the Loakan Airport, Barangay Scout Barrio and parts of Itogon, Benguet; a major route to Barangay (village) Quezon Hill; and a section of Naguilian Road.

Rillera said Loakan Road was supposed to open to traffic on September 15.

Some of the roads that DPWH repaired in June have been opened to motorists such as Bokawkan Road and an alternate route to neighboring La Trinidad town in Benguet.

DPWH has not yet started work on a few road projects lined up this year, including Magsaysay Avenue.

Complaints have reached the Baguio district engineering office about diggings along Naguilian Road that were left exposed at the height of the typhoon last week. Most of the ongoing Baguio road projects involved the replacement of road drainage tunnels and repavement.

Ireneo Gallato, Baguio district engineer, said the government has allocated at least P208 million for the repair of national roads in the city.

Baguio Representative Bernardo Vergara, vice chairman of the House committee on public works and highways, said he had seen the impact of rains on road construction, but he urged residents to be more patient.

Vergara said even President Aquino had addressed the matter during his recent visit here. He was referring to Aquino’s statement that the government never intended to burden Baguio residents with simultaneous road works.

The delays could also impact on Baguio’s tourism projects lined up for the Christmas holidays, said Benedicto Alhambra, city tourism officer.

Tourists who went to Baguio for the long weekend holiday from August 27 to 30 were confused by the traffic rerouting scheme that was undertaken due to the repairs, he said.

This, Alhambra said, may turn more tourists away.

The months of September to December normally draw the most tourists to Baguio, he said.—Desiree Caluza with a report from Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon