Bicol to Manila road impassable, AFP conducts clearing operation

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 26): Bicol to Manila road impassable, AFP conducts clearing operation

Roads from mainland provinces and municipalities in Bicol, especially in the municipality of Nabua, Camarines Sur going to Metro Manila are still not passable to all forms of vehicles due to landslide, floods and debris brought by typhoon Nina.

2nd Lt. Rachelle Marie Villaluz of the 901st Brigade of the Philippine Army said military personnel from the 901st brigade and 83rd Infantry Battalion were conducting massive clearing operations in Camarines Sur, Albay and Catanduanes, the Bicol provinces most affected by floods, landslide and debris due to typhoon Nina.

“Our team have been deployed early morning today (December 26) to assist other government agencies and local government units in clearing the roads to make it accessible to relief operations,” Villaluz said.

As of 12 noon Monday, 21 landslides were reported to have occurred in San Miguel, Catanduanes while 10 municipalities in Albay, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte have remained flooded.
Villaluz said all provincial bus operations from Bicol to Manila were suspended after Daang Maharlika remained impassable.

“Debris can easily be removed along Daang Maharlika, however, while some main roads remained flooded,” she said.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol has initially reported that electric power in the provinces of Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte have yet to be restored while mobile phones (Globe and Smart) have become operational since 12 noon.

OCD-Bicol Director Bernardo Rafael Alejandro said that after an aerial survey this morning, they found out that national roads from Albay to Camarines Sur up to Manila have yet to be cleared from debris and toppled electric posts.

He urged the public to help the government in coordinating with their barangay officials in the clearing operations to facilitate immediate post-disaster operations.

He said an initial report from the Albay Power Energy Corp. showed that power along 264 electrical posts have yet to be restored in Albay.

“We are still waiting for the complete assessment report from the other provinces hit by typhoon Nina,” Alejandro added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=951041