DAVAO CITY, July 13 (PIA) - Digos City Mayor Josef Cagas has requested the Department of Public Works and Highways to install bailey bridges in Barangays Aplaya and Ruparan to replace the villages' hanging bridges which were destroyed by the recent flooding.

In the Laging Handa Network Briefing with PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar today, Cagas raised the importance of these particular projects for the easy mobility of people and transportation of goods in the affected barangays, considering that tricycles are not allowed to traverse in the national highways.

DPWH national spokesperson Anna Mae Lamentillo, who also guested during the Network Briefing, responded saying that they will look into it and will have the regional team assess and provide recommendations on this particular situation.

The mayor though was thankful for the commitment given by DPWH to expeditiously repair the flood control dikes damaged by the flashflood incident on June 28, 2020.

Cagas reported that the flashflood has caused almost P500 million worth of damages to dikes and affected seven low-lying barangays, namely: Aplaya, Zone 1, Dawis, Cogon, Zone 3, San Miguel, and Igpit.

The incident also caused more than 400 families to stay overnight at the evacuation centers prepared by the city local government. There was no casualty reported on this calamity.

Lamentillo has assured the local chief executive and the residents of Digos City that the agency is committed to promptly rehabilitate 16 projects affected by the flashflood.

She said that there is a need to repair revetments in Barangays Aplaya, Cogon, Zone 1 and Tres de Mayo.

Cagas lamented that the LGU has no funds for the repair of infrastructures and can only do minor repairs, saying that 20% of the budget allocation intended for infrastructures has been realigned to address the COVID-19 crisis.

"We are thankful that Senator Bong Bo called us, to know what the national government can do to help repair the dikes," he stated.

The LCE has also pointed out the urgent need to repair some damaged road pavements and to clear out landslide debris which are still blocking the road in Sitio Baras in Barangay Kapatagan.

"We really need to have this repaired, so the transportation expenses in the delivery of goods and agri products will not be too much," Cagas said, adding that "our tourism activities are also hampered."

He reported that up to this time, the barangay road is still not passable, except only for motorcycles and villagers.

The Mayor said they have implemented a rerouting scheme where four-wheeled vehicles pass through the other way using the circumferential national road by the other municipality in Bansalan.

Cagas has also asked DPWH to consider a proposal of converting Brgy. Cogon to Brgy. Kapatagan road from provincial to national road.

He explained that this road connects to the Mt. Apo National Road from Bansalan town to Mainit, a portion of the circumferential road which is classified as a national road.

Lamentillo said that they will have it inspected and ask the regional team to assess and provide recommendation regarding the conversion. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)