All Regional and District Engineering Offices of the Department of Public Works and Highways are now undertaking preparatory activities in an effort to mitigate possible damages of the looming Super Typhoon “Mangkhut” with local name“Ompong”.
As early as Tuesday, September 11, 2018, DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar issued a memorandum directing the mobilization of DPWH Regional and District Disaster Response Teams nationwide for preparatory activities to ensure structural integrity of vital roads, bridges, and high rise public buildings.
In coordination with Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Office of the Civil Defense, Philippine Army, Philippine National Police (PNP), local government units (LGUs), DPWH Disaster Response Teams with heavy equipment and necessary logistical needs are now deployed along strategic locations to monitor and submit timely situational reports of national roads and bridges every six (6) hours and provide prompt assistance during the onset of typhoon.
All available equipment with operator are prepositioned along vital road sections and close to landslide prone areas to conduct prompt clearing operation and immediate restoration of collapsed bridges and cut roads and ensure mobility of disaster response activities.
After the calamity, these teams are likewise responsible in the initial assessment of damages as well as the submission of detailed information on damaged structures with cost estimates for the restoration of calamity-hit structures.