DPWH 7 Director Edgar Tabacon said on Thursday, January 6, 2022, that the funds are intended for the rehabilitation of roads and bridges in southern Cebu towns.
He said the funds are far from sufficient since the initial estimate of the damage in the entire region has reached P4 billion.
Tabacon said the completion of all rehabilitation works will depend on the funds the National Government will allocate.
“As long as we have the funds, we can complete it in less than a year,” he said.
According to Tabacon, many roads and bridges in the south were damaged by the typhoon, such as the approach of the Sariling Bridge in Malabuyoc town, which was impassable for several days.
A three-kilometer portion of the highway in Alegria was also reduced to a single lane as parts of the road had collapsed.
“The infrastructure that we need to address first are the roads and bridges so as not to hamper the movement of goods, services and the people,” said Tabacon.
The regional director said more funds would be needed when damage reports from other districts come in.
He said some engineering districts in Bohol Province have not submitted any damage assessment report yet since internet connectivity and power supply have not been restored.
During his visit to Cebu last January 6, 2022, DPWH Secretary Roger Mercado valued the typhoon’s damage in the entire country at around P50 billion.