TS “Seniang” claims millions of infra in Agusan
del Sur
By David M. Suyao
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Jan. 7 (PIA) -
Perceived as one of the most disastrous typhoons that hit Agusan del Sur,
Tropical Storm “Seniang” left tremendous damage in infrastructure as declared
by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in a report to the
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Council, as of January 4, 2015.
Although no estimated amount yet that was
presented, cost of damages will cost millions of pesos, said a report. For the
National Primary Roads from Agusan – to Davao alone, six major parts of the
road were flooded with .30 - .40 meters while others incurred major damages like
the Mahayahay, Afga and Tabon-tabon boundary sections that caused the non-flow
to traffic of all kinds of vehicles plying from Davao to Butuan City for two
days, and can be used by light vehicles only until now using one lane. At the
height of the typhoon, Wawa River in Sibagat town was also underwater making it
impassable to all types of vehicles.
On the Western side of the province, for three
days since the height of the typhoon, national road junction (NRJ) particularly
the Salvacion-Batohon section and the Hawilian section of the National
Secondary road in Esperanza town were covered with flood water eroding some
portion of the road making it impassable. On the Eastern side, the NRJ
Awa-Azpetia-Lianga road, Maug bridge overflowed about 50 meters from bridge
deck. The Maug-Ago section of the road were also flooded with around 1.5 meters
deep but was passable after two days.
The NRJ Bayugan-Calaitan-Tandag road that also
incurred major damages, mostly landslides and cracks is still not passable
while the Mapaga, La Suerte sections of NRJ Bah-bah – Talacogon were also
flooded with .60 meters deep but are passable, as of January 4.
Flood prone municipalities like Talacogon, Loreto,
Veruela, Bunawan and Prosperidad were also flooded but flood waters subsided
immediately after the rain stopped.
Presently, the road from Bayugan –Esperanza – Las
Nieves- Butuan City is not passable because of the new occurrence of rainfall.
The Mahayahay section of the national highway from Davao to Butuan is open to
light vehicles only, utilizing one lane but vehicles from both ends of the
damaged road have to wait for hours before given the go signal to pass.
(DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
PDRRMO advises public in SurSur to take
precautions due to possible floods, landslides
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Jan. 7 (PIA) – The
general public in Surigao del Sur has been advised since yesterday to take the
necessary precautions for possible floods and landslides that the adverse
weather might bring in.
Abel De Guzman, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Office (PDRRMO) chief, said that tail-end of cold front has
continued to prevail over the province; hence these scenarios are possible to
take place.
People living in low-lying areas and by hillsides
are prone to these kinds of risks, he pointed out.
The province is still reeling from the damage
caused by Typhoon Seniang; also, frequent rainfall has continued to be the
“order of the day,” the PDRRMO chief remarked.
However, De Guzman expressed confidence that his
counterparts at the local DRRMOs province-wide are already familiar on how to
respond to this kind of situation. (NGBT/Radyo ng Bayan/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
