Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. on Thursday sought the help of private contractors in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in clearing operations of roads, disposal of accumulated garbage, and transfer of victims to relocation sites, following the devastation caused by storm “Ondoy.”

Half a billion pesos in infrastructures was destroyed by the storm in five regions in Luzon, with Metro Manila and Central Luzon the hardest hit.

“We have instructed all the regional directors and district engineers to contact all contractors in affected communities to do community service to help the victims of storm Ondoy in the form of bayanihan,” Ebdane said. “Anyway, their businesses depend on the DPWH and it is time for them to give back to the community.”

In the latest report of DPWH on damaged roads and bridges, the Tipas-Napindan Road in Taguig City is still impassable due to heavy floods in the area. Initial cost of damage in Metro Manila is reportedly P50 million. (Raymund Antonio)