Paeng damages 2 bridges in Quezon

MANILA, Philippines — Two bridges were destroyed in Quezon as Tropical Storm Paeng barrelled through the province, prompting officials led by Gov. Angelina Tan to conduct a damage assessment yesterday.

The Bantilan Bridge that connects the town of Sariaya, Quezon with the town of San Juan, Batangas collapsed amid the rush of raging water in the river in Barangay Bantilan around 6 p.m. last Saturday.

Tan said her immediate concern was to check if there were casualties when the water level in the river rapidly increased.

Barangay chairman Barok Umali of Bantilan said 13 households were affected after the bridge was swept away – 10 families from Sitio Paradahan and three more from Sitio Ginting.

Apart from Bantilan Bridge, the hanging bridge in Sitio Sintorisan in the same barangay was also destroyed. This hanging bridge serviced 50 households, local officials said.

Tan said she was coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Quezon 2nd District Engineering Office (DEO) to address the need of getting the bridges fixed.

The DPWH-Quezon 2nd DEO said the Bantilan Bridge has a length of 63 meters and was built in 1970.

Ilocos Norte-Cagayan road partially opens

Meanwhile, police in San Fernando City, La Union reported that the national road linking Ilocos Norte and Cagayan provinces was partially opened yesterday.

Col. Julius Suriben, Ilocos Norte police director, told The STAR that the road in Barangay Pancian, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, a main route for motorists going to and from Manila, had been blocked by a massive landslide.

“The part of Manila North Road along Barangay Pancian is now passable after one lane of the highway has been cleared by the DPWH. Motorists, especially those coming for vacation, can now pass in the area,” Suriben said.

Suriben said that equipment and manpower are on standby to immediately address the possible occurrence of landslide because Ilocos Norte was still experiencing heavy rainfall due to Paeng. –  Jun Elias