MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Roads to Banaue, Ifugao are now passable after heavy rains prompted by the southwest monsoon triggered flash floods and mudslides last week.
READ: Flash floods, mudslides sweep through Ifugao town
The Department of Tourism 鈥� Cordillera Administrative Region (DOT-CAR) shared the update on Sunday, adding that clearing operations are still ongoing.
鈥淸The roads are] already cleared. Cleared na pero (but) punch-through open pa lang siya (for now). As per the [Department of Public Works and Highways] advisory, they鈥檙e still clearing. Cleaning and clearing operation pa 鈥榶ung nangyayari (are underway). But, you can already pass,鈥� DOT-CAR Regional Director Jovi Ganongan told 黑料社 in a phone call.
Based on initial reports, there were 55 tourists in Banaue when the incident occurred. All have left the town as of Saturday, said Ganongan.
When asked if tourists are now encouraged to visit the province since roads are passable, Ganongan gave a negative response.
鈥淪iguro not at this time. We鈥檙e also waiting for the advice of the LGU [local government unit]. Wala pa silang ini-issue na open pa. Kasi 鈥榶ung na-issue last time was temporarily closed 鈥榶ung mga tourism activities,鈥� she said.
(Maybe not at this time. We鈥檙e also waiting for the advice of the LGU. They are not issuing any statement that it is open. The last advisory was that tourism activities were temporarily stopped.)
鈥淲e hope na siguro (that maybe) within the day or tomorrow, they will issue an advisory, advising already na open siya (that it is open),鈥� the regional director went on.
Last Friday, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco advised tourists to as clearing and cleaning operations were underway.
Frasco likewise discussed with Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid 鈥渢o instruct the temporary prohibition on the use鈥� of Banaue Hotel and Youth Hostel (BHYH) as landslides 鈥渃arved out the side service access road鈥� and fronted 鈥渢he main entrance of the hotel.鈥�
The BHYH is an 81-room facility being managed by Tieza, an attached agency of DOT.
Aside from affected tourists, around 500 families were affected and three individuals were hurt by the flash floods and mudslides in Banaue.
READ: 3 hurt by flash floods, mudslides in Ifugao 鈥� NDRRMC