DPWH Conducts Assessment After Strong Quake Hit Mindanao

The Department Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has deployed disaster risk reduction management teams to check the structural integrity of infrastructure after a strong earthquake jolted North Cotabato and other parts of Mindanao early Wednesday evening, October 16. 2019.

Secretary Mark A. Villar said that the Regional and District Engineering Offices in Mindanao have been instructed after the strong earthquake to immediately conduct rapid damage assessment and needs analysis to determine the extent of impacts and assess the priority needs of infrastructure particularly the roads, bridges, major establishments, and government-owned buildings to ensure public safety.

To determine the physical damaged to infrastructure, structural integrity inspection of bridges along national roads are now being conducted by the DPWH Task Force in the regions and districts, added Villar.

DPWH Undersecretary Dimas S. Soguilon, in-charge of the Regional Operations in Mindanao, said that assessment and evaluation must be done to determine the extent, if any as well as the integrity of these structures, with the safety of the general public as main consideration.

As a member of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the DPWH is responsible for improving infrastructure systems through infrastructure assessment, rehabilitation and reconstruction programs, as well as road clearance, every time a disaster occurs in our country.

Based on an initial report from DPWH Region 12, all national road networks in SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) are passable.

With the tremor strongly felt and followed by series of aftershocks at North Cotabato, DPWH Cotabato 2nd District Engineer Elpidio A. Birog ordered the pre-positioning of government equipment assets at Paco-Roxas-Arakan Valley Road, Poblacion Magpet-Binay-Nowa-Basak-Temporan-Badiangon-Greenfield Road, Kidapawan-Ilomavic Tourist Road, and Davao-Cotabato Road for emergency clearing operations.

To date, DPWH Davao Del Sur, Davao Oriental 1st, and Compostela Valley District Engineering Offices reported that national roads and bridges under their jurisdiction are all passable.

Secretary Villar has offered the DPWH technical assistance in conducting assessment of private buildings due to their vulnerabilities to seismic-induced damages as well as the presence of structural deficiencies.

Meanwhile, the public is encourage to call the DPWH Hotline 165-02 which is open 24/7 for reports, inspection request and rescue operations brought about by the recent earthquake, added Villar. (DPWH PR)