LUNA, Apayao – Local and police officials here revealed food shortage is now apparent in the three remote towns of the province after they remain isolated for more than two weeks now because of the closure of major roads linking the said places with the different parts of the province and the nearby Cagayan and Ilocos Norte provinces. Senior Superintendent Nestor Birgonia, director of the Apayao provincial police office, said thousands of people from the towns of Calanasan, Cabugao and Conner cannot purchase or trade goods because roads had been blocked by landslides caused by typhoon Juan and the situation is aggravated by the daily downpour of rain.
Because of the said scenario, the transport of food, fuel and other basic needs of the people have stopped threatening the food supply of local residents, thus, the need for concerned government agencies to immediately come up with emergency programs to address the problem to ensure a steady supply of food and fuel.
Engr. Edilberto Carabbacan, regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Cordillera, ordered the immediately deployment of heavy equipment in various critical sections of the roads in Apayao and Kalinga provinces to clear roads rendered impassable by landslides.
Carabaccan said landslides occur because of the alleged lose soil and rock formations in various road sections in the region which are often washed down by the heavy afternoon rains brought about by the prevailing tail end of the cold front.
Considering the importance of available linkage from the urban to the rural areas of the province, Carabbacan said specific instructions were already issued to the agency’s district offices to make available units of heavy equipment to conduct clearing operations once there will be obstructions on the roads.
However, the DPWH official said clearing operation is hampered by the heavy downpour because soil and rocks continue erode.
Carabbacan claimed it is unfortunate there are numerous landslide-prone areas in the region which greatly affect the smooth flow of vehicular traffic and the transport of agricultural crops from the farms to the market that is caused by rapid deforestation.
Heavy downpour usually prevail in the eastern portion of the country, including Apayao, Kalinga and Ifugao areas during this time of the year which often result to the closure of major roads linking the province and the different parts of Northern Luzon.
Dexter See, Manila Bulletin
