BAGUIO CITY – Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar on Friday assured that the department is ready to clear road blocks in the Cordillera due to Typhoon Ompong.
In a press conference, Villar said he has directed DPWH-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to pre-position equipment that would be utilized to clear road blocks due to land, rock and mudslides in the area.
DPWH-CAR Regional Director Tiburcio Canlas, in a coordination meeting presided by Villar, said some 208 equipment were pre-positioned in 44 landslide-prone sites all over the region. There are also 1,010 personnel on standby to ready respond, Canlas said.
DPWH has a total of 60 service vehicles, road graders, dump trucks, pay loaders, backhoe, excavators and chainsaws which are now on site, apart from the 148 equipment from private contractors.
“The road network in the Cordillera is critical because of the transport of goods. There is a need to immediately clear the roads to transport goods and relief goods,” Villar said.
He also ordered the DPWH-CAR officials to assess and talk to contractors if there is a need to add more equipment.
“Ayaw ko na may days na di makakadaan ang mga sasakyan sa kalsada (I don’t want days when vehicles could not pass the roads),” Villar said.
He also ordered an easy access to Halsema highway, the primary road used by vegetable transporters, so that goods would not be stalled in reaching the market.
He added that there are satellite phones distributed to the field, to allow their personnel to communicate with on another and ask for help in clearing obstructed roads.
The provinces of Kalinga and Apayao, both located at the northern part of the region, are most likely to be hit hard by Typhoon Ompong, which is expected to make landfall on Saturday.
DPWH 1 (Ilocos) Director Ronnel Tan, who was also present during the meeting, said they have pre-positioned a total of 120 DPWH-owned equipment and 235 owned by private contractors to support the need for resources. They also have 821 personnel on standby.
Tan said they have distributed four satellite phones in critical areas — two in Ilocos Norte for the Ilocos Norte-Apayao road, in Pagudpud area, and another in Ilocos Sur for the Cervantes road that connects Ilocos to Benguet province.
The other satellite phone is with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) operation center, for communication, he said.
He added that the District Engineering Offices of Pangasinan have been tasked to help the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 1 in transporting relief goods to Ilocos Norte towns.
Villar, who was in the city to personally assure the department’s readiness, will also visit and conduct road inspections in Ilocos and Cagayan Valley. (Liza Agoot/PNA)
