After landslide last Sunday: Affected families can now go home

CEBU, Philippines – The four families that were forced to leave their homes due to the landslide in sitio Tipolo, barangay Guadalupe would be allowed to return home.

The residents are however asking the government that a big bamboo plant near their area be removed as it poses as a major threat to their safety every time the Banawa River swells.

The Cebu City Disaster Coordinating Council (CCDC), the City Engineering Office and barangay Guadalupe sent a team to inspect the damage brought by the landslide.

A team, according to Councilor Gerardo Carillo, chairman of the CCDC, will also be sent to Francisca Village where flooding was also reported.

The affected families have reportedly aired their concern to barangay captain Eugenio ‘Jing-jing’ Faelnar, who has relayed the same to the CCDC.

Faelnar said that he has been given assurance that something would be done about the bamboo plant.

In an interview over radio station dyAB, Catalina Herbito, 55 years old, one of the victims of the landslide, said that they are worried that the bamboo plant might be uprooted during heavy rain and would fall on their house.

The residence of the Herbito family was one of those affected by the landslide last Sunday.

Carillo said the foot bridge that was totally wiped out in barangay Labangon will be reconstructed and its Program of Works is already set for submission to the City Council.

The councilor assured that they are constantly monitoring all barangays and the officials and personnel have been alerted to respond to any disaster.

The rains over the weekend left one fatality, a five-year-old girl, who drowned in the river in barangay Ermita.

City is extending financial assistance to the family of the victim.

Meanwhile, Chief Supt, Lani-O Nerez, chairman of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council, is set to call an informal meeting of the members of the RDCC.

Nerez said that during the meeting he wants to know how prepared the members of the RDCC are.

Special focus will be given to the mountain barangays where landslides have been reported, said Nerez.

More rains are expected for the rest of the week according the weather bureau. — Ferliza C. Contratista, Christopher Gabriel C. Bonjoc and Barbara Anne B. Ocaba /NLQ (THE FREEMAN)