Major road slips in Wright-Taft road undergo repair

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE, (PIA Samar)
August 23, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  Commuters traveling the Wright-Taft Road can now breathe with relief as the once perilous Pisak road approach undergoes repair.

This was observed by Gil Alea, bus driver-operator of Ate Deyang, a PUB that ply the Catbalogan-Borongan road daily.

It will be recalled that in December 2005, major road slips occur as landslides swept the Wright-Taft road network. The most devastated portion was the Pisak Bridge approach where almost 80% of the pavement collapsed.

The road is between a hill and a deep embankment on the other side. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) initially issued a travel advisory warning the public to refrain from passing by the area as it posed grave danger, especially at nighttime. PUBs however, were unmindful of the warning and continued to pass the road.

“Thank God, no major accident happened,” said Frannie Accion from Borongan who is on board Ate Deyang weekly as he renders government service in Daram town.

In a phone interview with DPWH, Engr. Pablo Aragon, District Engineer, told PIA that the repair will employ geotextile technology where a waterproof mat is laid so that water will not seep in underground. Then, he said that a series of bags filled with soil will serve as rip-rap. It is then compacted and the pavement constructed.

All five major road slips in the area will utilize this technology because water is ever-present in the area specifically during the rainy days. The unabated water flow softens the soil which ushers landslides roads included, added Aragon.

Residents of San Rafael, Hinabangan have sought media’s help like DYMS to air this problem and beckon the concerned agency to action.

Although it took six months before the fund was released, Aragon is also thankful that no major accident has happened in the area. He acknowledges the intercession of DPWH Director Jaime Pacanan and Rep. Cata Figueroa for the fund release.

The 8-million repair, the engineer said could last up to two months. Assisting him is Engr. Joelito Castillo.