ILOILO City – Are bridges in Western Visayas robust and climate-resilient?
At least seven bridges in the region were damaged by Tropical Storm “Paeng” over the weekend.
One bridge in Aklan, four in Antique, one in Iloilo, and another in Negros Occidental incurred varying degrees of damage due to flooding caused by torrential rains, initial data from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) showed.
In Aklan, the Kalibo Bridge’s (Aklan East Road) approach got damaged. Motorists, especially heavy vehicles, were advised to take the Kalibo Bridge II alternate route parallel to the Kalibo Bridge as the Aklan District Engineering Office started repairing the damaged approach slab.
The province of Antique, meanwhile, reported the most number of damaged bridges so far. These included the Cairawan Bridge (Iloilo-Antique Road) in Barangay Liya-liya in Laua-an town and Belison Bridge (Iloilo-Antique Road in Barangay Ipil, Belison), which both had scouring on their abutments. They were thus deemed passable to light vehicles only.
On the other hand, the Paliwan Bridge (Iloilo-Antique Road) in Barangay Cubay North, Bugasong and Ypayo Bridge (Iloilo-Antique Road) in Poblacion, Patnongon were both impassable. The former collapsed while the latter sustained cracks between the bridge abutment and approach. Both were temporarily closed for assessment.
In Iloilo, the Oyungan Bridge (Iloilo- Antique Road) in Barangay Oyungan, Miag-ao also became impassable to vehicles. Based on initial assessment, the bridge showed soil collapse and damaged slope protection on approach (right side of the bridge).
The 1st District Engineering Office installed warning devices, and advisory information for possible re-routing was provided as well as strict monitoring of the affected area.
Meanwhile, in Negros Occidental, the Talave Bridge (Bacolod North Road) in Barangay Punao, San Carlos City had damaged stone masonry but its two lanes are passable to light vehicles.
It was unclear as of this writing how old those damaged bridges were.
DPWH Region 6 has also yet to clarify how often does it inspect bridges and how regular does it conduct bridge maintenance activities.
The department is responsible for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of public infrastructure, especially bridges, national highways, flood control and water resources development system, and other public works in accordance with national development objectives.
LANDSLIDE, FLOODED ROADS
Aside from bridges, DPWH-6 also monitored roads which either got flooded, had landslide or mudflow, and blocked by uprooted trees.
In Antique, there were 10 affected roads. These were Bugasong-Valderrama Road in Barangay Bagtason, Valderrama; Anini-y-T. Fornier-Hamtic Road in Barangay Pacencia, Tobias Fornier; Iloilo-Antique Road in Caromangay, Hamtic; San Remigio-Bugo Road in Sitio Igbolo, Barangay Maragubdub, San Remigio; Sibalom-Pis-anan Road in Barangay Nagdayao, Sibalom; Iloilo-Antique Road in Barangay Carit-an, Patnongon; San Remigio-Bugo Road in Sitio Agusipan, Barangay Trinidad, San Remigio; Bugasong-Valderrama Road in Barangay Bagtason, Bugasong; Bugasong-Valderrama Road in Barangay Bagtason, Valderrama; and Anini-Y- T. Fornier-Hamtic Road in Barangay Igdalagit, T. Fornier.
In Capiz, at least 15 roads were flooded and became impassable over the weekend.
These included the Iloilo-East Coast-Capiz Road; JCT, National Road-Mianay-Duyoc-Calaan Panitan Road; Roxas City Boundary Panitan-Bailan Road; Lanot-Loctugan-Panitan Boundary Road-Roxas City Road; Sigma-Mambusao-Jamindan Road in Barangay Tugas, Mambusao; Iloilo-Capiz Road in Barangay Santo Angel to Barangay Sto. Niño, Dumalag; Iloilo-Capiz Road (old route) in Barangay Angub, Cuartero; Iloilo-Capiz Road (new route) in Barangay Dayhagon, Sigma; Iloilo-Capiz Road (new route) Barangay Poblacion, Sigma; JNR Cuartero Maindang Tapulang Road in Barangay Poblacion, Cuartero; Dao Bypass Road in Barangay Poblacion to Balucuan, Dao; Iloilo-Capiz Road (new route) in Barangay Nasunogan, Dao; JNR Dumarao-San Rafael Road in Barangay Tamulalud, Dumarao; Sigma-Mambusao-Jamindan Road in Barangay Tumalalod in Barangay Caidquid, Mambusao; and Ayuyan-Tinaytayan Road in Barangay Sto. Angel, Dumalag.
In Iloilo province, five roads were inundated – Iloilo-Capiz Road (new route) K0041+800 – K0042+100; Iloilo-Capiz Road (new route)- K0042+500 – K0042+800; Pototan-Dingle-Tabugon Road; Dueñas-Diversion Road; and Ajuy Jamul-awon Concepcion Road in Barangay Fuente Bunglas, Ajuy.
On the other hand, in Negros Occidental, the following roads were either flooded or had soil erosion or road slip:
* Bacolod South Road in Brgy. Inauayan, Cauayan,
* Bacolod South Road (K0146+200 LS) in Brgy. Bulata, Cauayan,
* Bacolod South Road (K0146+400 LS) in Brgy. Bulata, Cauayan,
* Bacolod South Road in Brgy. Cartagena, Sipalay,
* Bacolod South Road in Brgy. Caliling,
* Bacolod-Murcia-DS Benedicto-San Carlos City Road K0074+769 – K0074+790 (Barangay Rizal, San Carlos City),
* Bacolod-Murcia-DS Benedicto-San Carlos City Road K0067+520 – K0067+545.5 (Barangay Rizal, San Carlos City),
* Bacolod North Road (Brgy. Castellano, Calatrava),
* Stop Aguinaldo Bug-ang Road K0111+270 – K0111+400 (Brgy. San Isidro, Toboso),
* Stop Aguinaldo Bug-ang Road K0119+950 (Brgy. Magticol, Toboso),
* Bacolod North Road (Brgy. General Luna, Toboso), and
* Bacolod-Murcia-DS Benedicto-San Carlos City Road (Brgy. Igmayaan, Don Salvador Benedicto).
The DPWH-6 through its respective district engineering offices has taken action following these incidents. They have deployed maintenance crew and equipment for further monitoring, clearing operations, repair and among others./PN
