The Department of Public Works and Highways Eastern Samar District Engineering Office has underway its rehabilitation of roads with slips, slope collapse and landslides along national road in Libas, San Julian, Eastern Samar.
On August 18, 2021, DPWH Eastern Samar District Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia and Chief of the Construction Section Michael C. Ador conducted an inspection of the project.
DE Junia requested the contractors to provide additional equipment for the excavation works and benching of the slope to fast track the implementation of the project and to take advantage of the good weather.
“I am very excited for this project; this is a long-term solution to the occurrence of landslides and rockfall along this road section especially during calamities. These projects once completed will provide road safety that will prevent road accidents in the area and will save lives and properties of the traveling public,” added DE Junia.
The agency head also said that the occurrence of landslides along national roads result in impeding the mobility of vehicles and risking the safety of the motorists that pass through the road.
As per reports from the ESDEO-Maintenance Section, on December 14, 2017, both lanes in Brgy. Libas road was covered by a 162.00 cu.m rockslide due to the excessive rain that happened during Typhoon Urduja. Another landslide occurred on December 25, 2019 covering half-lane of the road with 200.00 cu.m rockslide during the strike of Typhoon Ursula. The most recent recorded landslide in Brgy. Libas happened on November 22, 2020 caused by excessive rainfall, covering both lanes with 100.00 cu.m rockslide (limestone).
The district engineer also disclosed that in the rehabilitation works, they have already considered the offsetting of another 6.10 meters from the edge of the existing road to anticipate four lane road improvement in the future.
“In times that there will be funds for road widening, there is no need to re-construct the slope protection since we already considered it in our design,” said DE Junia.
According to her, the design of considering road improvement will save the government’s money and effort.
Meanwhile, the rehabilitation of slope protection has four project contracts which includes the benching of the mountain slope and installation of slope protection rock fall netting along the 480 meters road section in Libas, with a total appropriation of 358.98 million pesos.
The four project contracts started in March 2021 and were expected to be completed at the end of the year. (PR)
