The estimated cost of damage to public infrastructure due to Super Typhoon Rolly has reached around PHP6 billion, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported on Tuesday.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said the destruction to roads, bridges, flood control structures, and public buildings have so far amounted to PHP5.756 billion.

“As expected, our assessment teams identified majority of the destruction in Bicol Region amounting to PHP4.621 billion,” Villar said in a statement.

The cost includes damage to roads (PHP1.515 billion), bridges (PHP458.2 million), flood control structures (PHP2.036 billion), government buildings (PHP367.25 million and other infrastructure (PHP1.379 billion).

Meanwhile, the DPWH Bicol Region has reported closed roads in the island province of Catanduanes which was previously isolated and unreachable due to province-wide power outage and unavailable telecommunication signal since the landfall of the super typhoon.

Impassable roads in Catanduanes include the intermittent sections of the Catanduanes Circumferential Road due to landslides and fallen trees specifically in Barangay Balongbong, Bato town; Barangay Libod, Pandan town; Barangay Putting Baybay, San Andres town; and from Barangay Francia, Virac town to Barangay Balongbong, Bato town.

Also closed are Junction Bato–Baras Road and Baras–Gigmoto–Viga Road due to fallen electrical posts.

“DPWH quick response teams are fast-tracking clearing operations along the affected road sections on the island as we have no alternative routes as of the moment. These roads must be opened soonest for the relief efforts which Catanduanes badly needs right now,” Villar added.

Aside from the three roads in Catanduanes, five other road closures were reported in Bicol namely: Tabaco Wharf Road 2, Ligao -Tabaco Road, Matacon Polangui Junction Rd. section in Albay; Lagonoy-Caramoan Road, RS, Ancolan, Presentacion, and Nabua- Balatan Road in Camarines Sur.

The DPWH also identified two remaining closed road sections in the Cordillera Administrative Region and Central Luzon namely: Apayao-Ilocos Norte Road, Dibagat, Kabugao, Apayao, and Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road Detour Road at Diteki Bridge due to fallen poles, wires, and other debris.

To date, a total of 19 road sections were already cleared and opened by DPWH quick response teams in the aftermath of the typhoon. (PNA)