MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is stepping up disaster recovery efforts across the country, undertaking emergency repairs and reopening critical transport links in areas battered by floods, landslides, and persistent monsoon rains following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive for immediate government action.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on Tuesday said the DPWH has begun emergency rehabilitation of a collapsed section of a river dike in Barangay San Vicente, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro after continuous heavy rains caused strong river currents to breach the flood-control structure.
The President, he said, ordered the agency to expedite repairs to ensure the safety of residents living along the river, particularly as the southwest monsoon continues to bring heavy rainfall across large parts of the country.
"Engineering teams and heavy equipment have been deployed to stabilize the damaged dike and restore its protective function against flooding and riverbank erosion, reducing risks to nearby communities and agricultural lands," added Dizon.
In Davao City, the DPWH has opened the temporary Callawa Bailey Bridge 2 in Barangay Callawa to motorists and commuters after completing construction in just under two months.
Dizon said the bridge was fast-tracked following the President's instruction to immediately restore safe passage in the area after the permanent Callawa Bridge collapsed on May 19, 2026, due to severe flooding. The temporary structure now restores a vital transport link while work on a permanent replacement continues.
Meanwhile, in Glan, Sarangani, the DPWH has reopened several roads that were previously closed by landslides as clearing operations continue in areas affected by the southwest monsoon, intensified by Tropical Storm "Inday."
Among the roads reopened to traffic were sections of the Sarangani–Davao del Sur Coastal Road in Barangay Kapatan and Sitio Nacolyael in Barangay Small Margus, which had been temporarily closed after landslides blocked access.
The agency said road-clearing operations remained ongoing in affected areas to ensure safe travel and restore mobility for residents, businesses, and emergency responders.
The simultaneous infrastructure restoration efforts underscore the government’s push to quickly reconnect isolated communities, protect lives and property, and keep essential transport routes open as severe weather continues to affect parts of the country during the rainy season.
