La Niña deals P384-M blow on Visayas, Mindanao infra

Damage to infrastructure dealt by continues rains and flooding in Visayas and Mindanao has so far reached P383.7 million, as La Niña the abnormal weather phenomenon continues to devastate not only parts of the Philippines but also overseas including Australia, Middle East, and other parts of Asia. The damage to roads and bridges — a vital link between markets and producers in economic terms — was reported by the Department of Public Works and Highways Thursday, citing preliminary figures given by its Bureau of Maintenance. Agusan del Sur province in Mindanao’s Caraga Region has sustained the largest amount of damage to national roads and bridges amounting to P96 million, the bureau said. As roads remain flooded, they have been impassable, the bureau said. Apart from rains and flood, some parts of the southern and central portions of the country have also been suffering from landslides. Equipment and repair crews have been deployed by the department’s regional and district offices for emergency operations that include clearing landslides and topical repairs to make roads passable, the public works agency said. — VS, GMANews.TV