MAWAB, DAVAO DE ORO —The series of earthquakes and landslides due to inclement weather conditions in past weeks have triggered cracks along the national highway in Km. 74, Barangay Sawangan in Mawab town, Davao de Oro.
The series of calamities has caused millions of losses in agricultural products coming in and out of Southern Mindanao to the National Capital region.
The Mawab national highway is the main road leading to regions 9, 10, and 13 and its neighboring provinces where goods from Manila to Southern Mindanao and vice versa are being transported by land.
The Department of Public Works and Highways and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Davao de Oro passed a joint resolution Sunday night to effect the temporary road closure due to the imminent risks it may cause to the general public,
On Monday morning, the resolution was implemented through the joint council providing an alternate route, but still motorists felt the inconvenience.
“As it is now, it is very dangerous,” said Davao de Oro District Engineer Ronald Cariaga “The ground softened during the series of earthquakes and when the shear line and the recent trough of the low-pressure area which caused heavy downpour added pressure to the soil resulted to the scouring and cement to collapse, as we see the cracks.”
“We cannot gamble the safety of the motorist,” Cariaga stressed.
“We agreed on the temporary closure to fid remedy to the situation” said Mawab Mayor Ruperto Gonzaga Jr., adding that they are still waiting for the official report of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau’s inspection report “If indeed the long stretch of the national highway is part of the fault line.”
The municipal government provided an alternate route pending solution of the road problem, “Actually, the travel time is the same using this highway and the alternate route.
Gonzaga emphasized “We are studying to adopt a window time to allow the heavy trucks carrying perishable goods and agricultural products, we are proposing to give two hours window time, allow the trucks to pass provided that they observe the 300-meter distance from one another so that the soil pressure will not add up to the present condition.”
“Heavy equipment and container vans, will be provided window time, but we need to study the situation,” he added.
The provincial government and the local government established a command center on both ends to ensure that movement is monitored.
IF the “window time” scheme is adopted, still, the light vehicles must pass via the alternate route, Gonzaga emphasized.
The municipal government noticed a heavy traffic build-up during the early hours of the implementation of the closure “We our traffic, Municipal Risk Reduction Management Office personnel along withe the municipal police are there to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.”
As it is now, the national government has yet to allocate funds for the repair of the damaged highway.
“Yan ang problema kasi we will depend our rehabilitation plan to the budget of the national government,: the Mayor added.
Office of Civil Defense XI regional Director Ednar Dayanghirang who visited the area yesterday said :As long as the provincial government can come up with a proposal for the rehabilitation, I can recommend to the national government to fund the project but, we have to wait for the report of the MGB.”
Police regional Director BGen, Alden Delvo who was there during the briefing of Cariaga said “The police will be here to assist the local government in the implementation of the temporary closure order.”
Delvo however said, the road problem will have a heavy impact on the business sector because the travel of goods will be affected.
“As it is now, all plans are temporary because we don’t have the fund,” Cariaga added.
