DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Philippines (PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III last Wednesday ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to restore connectivity of the road network from Ayungon to Guihulngan in the northern part of Negros Oriental which was badly damaged by last Monday’s strong earthquake that hit the Visayas.

The President issued the directive to DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson during a press briefing at the Dumaguete-Sibulan alternate international airport after he went on an ocular inspection of Guihulngan with Mayor Ernesto Reyes and other officials.

In response, the DPWH made a commitment to find within four to five days alternative routes to go around totally damaged bridges here. The agency is seeking help from local government units concerned to help convince lot owners for the temporary use of their properties, before actual road repair and construction starts in two weeks.

The DPWH assured the President that the necessary funds and equipment needed for the work to be done are available. Local contractors, in fact, have volunteered to help in the building of alternate routes even as the President was also assured that temporary bridges will be installed in seven calendar days.

A total of 13 bridges are damaged, three of which are totally destroyed by the earthquake, including the Tinayunan bridge in Guihulngan, the bridge in Martilo, La Libertad and the Pangalwan bridge in Dayoyo, Jimalalud.

Singson told the President it has mobilized 15 teams of technical men and engineers to help in the assessment of damaged roads and bridges and to determine what needs to be replaced. He said the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers also offered help.

For totally collapsed bridges, DPWH is expected to install foot bridges or belly bridges until such time that a replacement is constructed.

The President was told that the Tinayunan bridge was scheduled for replacement in this year’s budget with P26.8-million allocation but the earthquake demolished it before work could commence.

The President has also ordered the immediate restoration of damaged water pipes to ensure steady supply of potable water in affected areas.

Restoration of cut and damaged pipes will be conducted by administration to do away with the bidding process. A mobile water treatment plant from Cagayan de Oro is ready for shipment to Negros Oriental to address the problem.

Furthermore, the energy sector was also directed to restore electricity from Jimalalud to Canlaon after five of six transformers were restored by Central Negros Electric Cooperative linemen.

The President was assured that if there are no damage on the transmission lines, electricity could be restored by Friday, Feb.10, even as linemen from the Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative I (NORECO 1) had to use carabaos to move the electric poles due to damaged roads and bridges.