DPWH closes Southern Leyte roads due to possible landslide

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines—The Department of Public Works and Highways here closed the road in Pancho Villa village in Sogod town due to continues heavy downpour.

The road connects the Visayas and Mindanao islands.

Southern Leyte chief Margarita Junia, chief of DPWH Southern Leyte said the closure is temporary until the weather condition stabilizes.

Junia said the closure is one of the measure they adopted to prevent any damage as landslide threatens, “We are closing the road until further notice, we are monitoring the soil movement,” she added.

The DPWH provides an alternate route: Motorists bound for Benit port in Southern Leyte are  advised to take the longer Tacloban–Mahaplag–Baybay –Bato–Bontoc – Sogod – Daang Maharlika – Liloan – San Ricardo road route.
Another alternative is the Abuyog-Silago Road. Benit port is the region’s gateway to Mindanao.

The road section is a few kilometers away from Agas-Agas Bridge, the country’s tallest. The road stretch has been tagged as highly susceptible to landslides.“

The DPWH noticed an early signs of landslide due to heavy rains experienced for the past two days. The local government also advised residents nearby to evacuate,” Junia added.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has recently ranked Southern Leyte province as the seventh most vulnerable to heavy landslides in the Philippines.Based on MGB’s geo-hazard mapping and assessment, the province recorded a 78 percent landslide probability.-Sarwell Meniano / PNA