Public Works and Highways Sec. Mark Villar conducted aerial inspection earlier today over areas badly damaged by magnitude 6.1 earthquake particularly in Pampanga.
In an interview with Bombo Radyo, Villar said that among places massively hit by the quake were Clark (Clark International Airport currently closed), Porac (Chuzon Supermarket collapsed), Lubao (Road damaged and Sasmuan-Lubao bridge – passable to light vehicles only), Dinalupihan (collapsed Dinalupihan-Pampanga Boundary Arch), Bacolor (Megadike Access Roads, which is closed from Dolores to Calibutbut/Maliwalo in Bacolor, Pampanga) and Floridablanca (Floridablanca Consuelo Bridge).
Meanwhile, in Metro Manila, Emilio Aguinaldo College suffered the worst damage after its wall leaned over the building nearby due to the impact of the quake.
Occupants already vacated the building and DPWH personnel has already cordoned one lane of UN Avenue to preclude any further impact on the building which may be caused by vehicles passing through the road.
In his separate statement, Villar said that DPWH has activated all equipment and personnel from Region III, NCR, Region IVA and their corresponding District Engineering Offices for clearing and rescue operations.
He added that coordination was already established by DPWH with their corresponding Provincial Risk Reduction Management Council counterpart in the area for a more synchronized response.
“Teams have been deployed to assess structural integrity of key infrastructure in earthquake affected area. UPMO Directors handling big ticket projects in Central Luzon and NCR were also given instruction to conduct assessment of their on going projects,” Villar said in a statement.
