Uwan cripples PNR bridge in Albay

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is mounting quick response and rehabilitation measures to restore public transport operations disrupted by Super Typhoon Uwan, which battered several parts of the country, including the Bicol Region last weekend.

Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez directed the Philippine National Railways (PNR) to immediately assess and repair a damaged bridge in Guinobatan after a column partially collapsed due to raging river currents.

The bridge, which connects Barangays San Rafael and Maipon in Albay, forms part of the Naga-Legazpi line that serves about 400 passengers daily.

Videos posted online showed the bridge’s rail track warped after one of its pillars gave way.

The PNR suspended train operations between Naga, Camarines Sur and Legazpi, Albay until further notice for passenger safety.

Once weather conditions improve, engineers will be deployed to evaluate the full extent of the damage and begin repairs.

To mitigate the impact of the suspension, Lopez instructed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to deploy additional public utility vehicles and shuttle services in affected areas.

In Metro Manila, all railway systems – the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 and the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 – are providing free rides for commuters until today.

The DOTr also rolled out free bus rides along major corridors, including Quiapo-Fairview, Quiapo-Angono, Lawton-Alabang, Roxas Boulevard-Sucat and Taft-Cubao and may extend the program depending on how fast the situation normalizes.

To facilitate relief operations, the Philippine Ports Authority waived terminal fees for vehicles carrying aid and rescue equipment to typhoon-hit provinces, while the Civil Aeronautics Board ordered airlines to lift cargo fees for humanitarian shipments.

The Toll Regulatory Board also asked toll operators to exempt rescue vehicles from paying expressway fees.

San Miguel Corp. (SMC), which operates about 200 kilometers of tollways across Luzon including the Skyway System, South Luzon Expressway and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, was the first to comply, offering toll-free passage to government vehicles involved in relief and recovery missions.