Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has directed the Philippine National Railways (PNR) to conduct an immediate assessment of the PNR bridge connecting San Rafael and Maipon in Guinobatan, Albay, which sustained damage during the onslaught of the super typhoon on November 9.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to fast track repairs of the damaged bridge, while prioritizing the safety of the passengers and PNR’s personnel.
Acting Secretary Lopez said PNR engineers are on standby and ready to carry out the assessment once weather and safety conditions permit.
As a result of the damage, operations for the Naga–Legazpi route have been temporarily suspended pending the completion of the assessment and subsequent repair works. The said route serves around 400 passengers daily. The acting transport chief will be instructing the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to augment public utility vehicles (PUVs) plying in the area to accommodate the affected passengers.
The PNR is also set to conduct an inspection and assessment of the entire Bicol commuter train route to ensure that no other structures sustained any damage.
The DOTr and PNR will continue to provide updates once the assessment has been completed.
