Metro roads worth P8.6-M damaged

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported that some 3,579 meters of national roads in Metro Manila worth P8.6-million were damaged by rains and floods brought by Typhoon Biring.

Initial reports coming from the seven engineering districts of Metro Manila as of May 17 submitted by Bureau of Maintenance (BOM) chief Engineer Anatalio Atienza to NCR Director Salvador Pleyto showed some 22,726 square meters of roads were damaged.

Estimated cost of repair was pegged at P8,636,100.40 (at P380 per square meter).

Unofficial reports which cannot be verified at presstime said damage has been assessed at P22-million as of yesterday.

Pleyto said pothole patching operations will begin soon. He announced that an inter-agency committee to be led by the local government units and the National Housing Authority (NHA) is set to be convened to address the sticky problem of squatter relocation.

"We can't effectively de-clog the esteros especially because they have constructed illegal structures on top of them. We can't flush the dirt and debris from the clogged waterways because they are still there," Pleyto said.

"You will not believe this, but an example, (aside from the Antipolo Open Canal in Blumentritt), is the Estero de Magdalena (between Estero de Binondo and Estero de San Lazaro). The estero's original width of 20 meters has been reduced to only 1.5 meters," Pleyto pointed out.