BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Public Works and Highways-Cordillera (DPWH-CAR) continues to ensure road safety and maintain accessibility of road networks following the impacts of recent tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon.
As of 5 a.m. on August 12, 2026, a total of 186 road sections were affected across the region, with 179 landslides recorded since the start of the month. These were affected by soil collapse or road cuts, road slips, fallen trees, and aggravated road slips.
“Ti aksyon nga ar-aramiden ita ti DPWH ket agin-install da iti safety devices ken madama nga agcli-clear da, ken tatta, agis-estimate da, iprep-prepare da amin nga documents para dagitoy kailangan nga ma-repair, mapondoan,” Engr. Patrick Cerilo of DPWH-CAR said.
(What the DPWH is doing now is installing safety devices and unertaking clearing operations. Personnel are estimating the damages, preparing the documents for those to be repaired and funded.)
Cerilo shared that the number of road landslides recorded this August has already surpassed the historical average of around 160 landslides recorded from 2015 to 2021. Most of the landslides were recorded in Benguet.
A total of 13 road sections are still closed, including eight national roads. These include the whole stretch of Kennon Road which is open for access by residents only at the moment; Baguio-Itogon Road at Poblacion, Itogon; Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road at Beckel, La Trinidad; Tawang-Ambiong Road at Ambiong, La Trinidad; Abatan-Mankayan-Cervantes Road at Tabio, Mankayan; Banaue Hungduan-Benguet Boundary Road at Hapao, Hungduan; Banaue via Tanudan-Barlig Road at Dupligan, Tanudan; and Mt. Province-Ilocos Sur Road via Tue Road at Balaoa, Tadian.
The Gov. Bado Dangwa National Road in Ampusongan, Bakun, is open for light vehicles only.
Cerilo said that the initial cost of damage is P1,454,897,648.00, for which around P2,771,061,585.00 is needed for recovery, rehabilitation or reconstruction of the damaged roads.
Meanwhile, he advised travelers to stay safe due to the remaining threats of landslides. “Tayo po ay mag-ingat. Kung hindi importante ang biyahe natin, huwag tayong magbiyahe. Kasi kahit na nagsu-subside na ‘yung effect ng habagat, meron at meron tayong mae-experience na landslide. At kung sakali man na importante ang pagbiyahe natin, tayo ay mag-prepare,” Cerilo said. **JDP/DEG-PIA CAR
