ALICIA ROAD QUICKLY REOPENED AFTER SECTION GIVES WAY DURING HEAVY RAINS

Daphne Santuyo

Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay — Motorists traveling along the Alicia Road were able to resume passage Monday night after authorities carried out immediate repairs on a road section in Sitio Kurilaw, Barangay Kawayan that was damaged amid persistent rainfall.

The road section was reported to have given way late Monday afternoon, September 21, while a 10-wheeler dump truck was traversing the area.

The affected portion is located near an ongoing triple-barrel box culvert project, where construction work was being undertaken as heavy rains continued to fall.

Provincial Administrator Atty. Christian Jay Millena alerted the public about the situation in a Facebook post at around 7:30 p.m., initially advising motorists of the temporary restriction in the area.

The DPWH 1st District Engineering Office, headed by District Engineer Engr. Hector Magaway, promptly sent personnel, equipment and construction materials to the site to address the damaged portion and restore road access.

According to Magaway, the box culvert along the right side of the roadway had already been completed. However, the approach section connecting the road to the culvert still required additional work before it could safely accommodate traffic.

The combination of prolonged rainfall and construction activity made the affected section particularly vulnerable, prompting authorities to restrict the passage of heavy trucks while emergency work was being carried out.

The initial assessment was that restoration could take until Tuesday morning, depending on weather conditions.

However, crews managed to make the road passable several hours earlier than initially expected.

In an update issued at 9:40 p.m. Monday, Millena announced that the previously damaged portion of the Alicia Road had been restored to a passable condition.

While access has been restored, motorists were urged not to let the reopening lead to complacency. Drivers were advised to slow down, remain alert and observe instructions from personnel in the area as further road and construction work may still be necessary.

Authorities will continue monitoring the site, particularly as rainy conditions persist, to ensure the safety of motorists using the route.