Damage to roads, bridges in Bohol, Cebu reaches P563M

Long cracks on the road caused by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake are visible at Cortes township, Bohol. AP

MANILA, Philippines – Damage to roads and infrastructures from the 7.2-magnitude earthquake early this week rose to P563 million, the Department of Public Works and Highways said.

At a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo on Thursday, Ernesto Gregorio of DPWH said that in Bohol, damage has reached P546.01 million — P178 million to roads and P359 million to bridges.

He said seven bridges were impassable as of Thursday afternoon. Twenty-seven were already passable to light vehicles.

The following were the seven roads and bridges still impassable:

Tagbilaran North Road

Moalong Bridge

Abatan Bridge

Tagbuane Bridge

Cortes- Balilihan- Catigbian Road

Loay Interior Road

Desamparados Bridge

In Cebu, authorities reported P17.65-million worth of damage to roads and bridges.

Tootsie Escobia, information officer of Bohol provincial government, said that it has been a challenge to deliver relief goods to affected persons, as some roads were rendered impassable.

“Then there are also aftershocks, plus we are also experiencing rains,” he said.

He clarified that they have enough relief goods to distribute, but was hoping that more would come.

As of 5 p.m., the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the quake has killed 161 persons – Bohol 149; Cebu 11; and Siquijor with 1.

There were 21 people missing, all from Bohol and the disaster affected 3.4 million in Bohol and Cebu.

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