Landslide hits Albay-Camarines road

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has ordered the provincial engineering office to coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways’ regional office to speed up the opening of the Sañgay-Tiwi Road which has been closed to traffic since midnight Saturday due to a landslide triggered by days of continuous heavy rains.

Salceda said the inclement weather brought about by the surge of northeasterly monsoon rains and strong gale force winds at the eastern seaboard has prevented the road clearing work.

DPWH regional director Danilo Dequito told The STAR in a text message that the landslide hit the road linking Albay and Camarines Sur in Barangay Patintinan, about a kilometer from Tiwi town.

The continuous rains since Dec. 24 that have trigger flash floods and landslides have prompted Salceda to order local risk reduction councils to maintain a high level of preparedness for the quick evacuation of affected villagers.

Two persons drowned while crossing a swollen spillway in Manito, Albay last Dec. 29, while 199 hectares of newly planted palay was inundated in Camalig, Malilipot and Manito towns.