DPWH to rehabilitate landslide-hit road network in Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 26  -- The road network in Southern Leyte damaged by recurring landslides will undergo soil stability works prior to full-blown rehabilitation next year, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said on Wednesday.

The DPWH confirmed that soil stabilization within the 200-meter stretch in Pancho Villa village, Sogod town is necessary to prevent mudslides from occurring in the future. Massive mud slides affected the road section last March, followed by minor landslides in the past few months.

DPWH Southern Leyte chief, Ma. Margarita Junia, said the project, which will be completed within the year, will utilize displacement piling installation method to stabilize the foundation of the landslide-hit road section.

Displacement piling installation is a method used in providing foundation support for buildings and other structures through driving piles into the ground without removing any soil or other material until it reaches the stable layer of the ground.

“Based on the results of the soil exploration conducted in March, this is the most reasonable option to take. We will drive piles 30 meters below underground to reach the solid ground foundation and create sheet pile afterwards. Through this, we will be able to stabilize the ground there, thus, addressing the threat of the continuing ground movement,” Junia said in a phone interview.

The rehabilitation of the highway, which forms part the vital link from Visayas to Mindanao, will follow immediately once stabilization works are done, the official said.

After stabilizing the ground, the DPWH will introduce a slope protection technology to mitigate landslides. The damaged road stretch will undergo major repair after prevention measures are fully completed.

Junia said rehabilitation plans and designs have already been submitted to the central office of the department and awaiting approval.

“As much as we want to address this problem with much urgency, we cannot do that because we are still waiting for the fund for 2019 infrastructure program where our fund for the restoration master plan is included,” Junia noted.

Currently, only one lane is passable in the 200-meter portion of the national highway.

The Southern Leyte highways chief advised the public bound for Benit Port to take safer alternate routes while threats along the highway in Sogod town is not yet fully addressed.

Meantime, travelers bound for Benit Port may take Tacloban – Mahaplag – Baybay – Bato – Bontoc – Sogod - Daang Maharlika – Liloan - San Ricardo road. (SQM/PNA)