DPWH-CAR on 24/7 alert for the rainy season

July 21, 2019 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways- Cordillera Administrative Region (DPWH-CAR) assured its readiness this typhoon season and is on 24/7 alert in the event of calamities and emergencies, DPWH-CAR regional director Tiburcio Canlas said on Wednesday.

Canlas said his agency has mobilized all its resources, equipment and personnel to make sure roads are passable, focusing more on national roads.

“The regional office as well all as our district offices are ready to respond to any eventualities in order that all roads especially national roads are passable to motorists,”

Canlas said during a Kapihan media forum at the DPWH regional office on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. Canlas also said that some 68 equipment composing of trucks, bulldozers and pay loaders from DPWH as well as from private contractors are deployed in strategic areas especially in slide-prone areas across the region.

He added that all road and bridge repairs being conducted along Kennon Road will be completed in due time to allow the historic road to be passable by motorists.

Canlas said he has sought more equipment and funding from the national government to expedite the works being done on the historic road as well as other national roads hard-hit by landslides.

Kennon road remains closed to vehicular traffic to date except those public utilities plying the route to serve residents living along the stretch of Kennon Road.

Meanwhile, Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) and Office of Civil Defense-Cordillera (OCD-CAR) head Albert Mogol, through the Joint Committee on Kennon Road, explained that the body has decided to keep Kennon Road closed due to numerous landslides being brought about by bad weather, putting premium on safety.

He added that some bridges undergoing repairs and rehabilitation are still not safe to use and that DPWH-CAR is addressing it with dispatch.

He also reported that all local government units in the region have leveled-up in responding to such disasters to keep up with the press forum’s theme “Resilient Structures for Disaster Preparedness”. “LGUs are now pro-active in dealing with calamities/disasters, and the incident management system has improved,” Mogol said.

He also said that OCD-CAR has been aggressive in conducting seminars and trainings on disaster preparedness despite the need to address rescue equipment. He said his agency is strengthening its communication capabilities.

For his part, civic leader and Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE-Baguio) former president Antonio Caluza stressed the vital role that planning and design play in the construction of buildings in order to meet the challenges of the times, like climate change and dangers posed by areas declared geo-hazard.

Primo Agatep/ABN