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'Pepeng' renders roads in N. Luzon impassable


Several roads in Northern Luzon were rendered impassable as typhoon “Pepeng" knocked down trees and strewed debris, cutting off telecommunication lines in some areas, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said Sunday. In its 6 a.m. report, the NDCC said some roads were blocked and some were flooded. Telecommunications services provided by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), Smart Communications Inc. and Globe Telecommunications in Cagayan province were also "intermittent," the NDCC said. The NDCC also pegged damage to agriculture at P14.855 million in the Bicol region and P13.6 million in Isabela province. In Benguet, the NDCC said a landslide in Poblacion village in La Trinidad town destroyed one house and damaged five others. Similar landslides were recorded in Bakakeng in Camp 7, Magsaysay, Bokawkan, Baguio City; and Puguis village in La Trinidad, Benguet. At least 150 houses were affected in flooding in Banna town in Bangue and Laoag City. Impassable roads In Cagayan, NDCC said the Maharlika Highway in Ilagan town in Isabela to Cagayan is hardly passable due to fallen trees and electric posts. Cabagan-Sta. Maria Overflow Bridge in Isabela is impassable due to swollen river. The water level is one meter above bridge deck. The Maguilling Overflow Bridge along Cagayan-Apayao Road in Tuao town is not passable due to the swollen Chico River. Daang Maharlika, Manila North Road and other road sections are hardly passable due to fallen trees. In Bicol, parts of the Catanduanes Circumferential Road, Legazpi-Punta de Jesus Road, Libon Pantao Road, and Albay West Coast Road were impassable. The flooded Naga-Calabanga-Balongay Road was passable only to large vehicles. On the other hand, the NDCC said Apayao River and its tributaries swelled, making flooding "imminent" in lower Apayao towns such as Flora, Luna, Pudtol and Sta. Marcel. Roads closed in Cordillera included Apayao-Ilocos Norte; Conner-Kabugao Road; Guinaang-Luttuacan section; Claveria to Calanasan; (Benguet) Acop-Kapangan-Kibungan-Bakun Road; (Mt. Province) Bontoc-Barlig-Natonin-Parella Road Lunas Natonin Section; Talubin-Barlig-Natonin-Paracelis Road Lunas Natonin Section. Affected population Citing figures from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, NDCC said "Pepeng" had affected 14,342 families or 68,589 people in 221 villages in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol, MEtro Manila and Cordillera. Of these, 8,062 families or 35,543 people are staying in 188 evacuation centers. At least 35,486 families or 169,941 people were preemptively evacuated in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central and Southern Luzon, Bicol and Metro Manila. They were brought to 117 evacuation centers, the NDCC said. On the other hand, the council said the number of people stranded in Bicol continued to go down, numbering 638 as of midnight Saturday, as the weather in the region improved. It added many evacuees in Albay have started going home as early as Saturday. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV

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