Part of mountain falls on houses: Landslide hits Naga barangay

CEBU, Philippines – A huge portion of a mountain in barangay Mayana, Naga near the boundary with Toledo City fell on houses at its foot early yesterday afternoon affecting 12 families.

Luckily, everyone escaped unhurt, but some victims failed to save their belongings.

Aside from the houses, a basketball court and a portion of the barangay road have also been covered with soil.

Mary Jane Gimenez, 17, told The Freeman that they started taking their things out of their house around 2 p.m. when they noticed that loose soil were falling on their roof.

She said that shortly after they were able to pull their belongings out of their home, there was a landslide that covered their home as well as 11 others in the area.

She said that it was raining in their place since Tuesday and were worried as the mountain looked unstable.

The first house that was covered by the landslide is owned by Cenon Landero.

Mayor Valdemar Chiong of Naga said that an estimated three-hectare-area has been affected by the landslide.

The local government has immediately deployed its resources to help the victims. Food was delivered last night to the Mayana barangay hall, where some of the victims are temporarily housed.

The other victims are seeking temporary shelter in the homes of relatives.

William Cabaluna, 21, a neighbor of Gimenez, said that he was not able to save the belongings of his family. He said that he was busy helping Gimenez and never expected the landslide to also affect their home.

"Nitabang man ko og hakot sa butang nila Mary Jane kay wa ko kahibaw maapil diay among bay," lamented Cabaluna.

Only the roofs of the houses can be seen at the site of the landslide while electrical connection was also cut off as the electric posts were also affected.

Only one house was spared from the landslide, but its owner, Danny Gimenez, uncle of Mary Jane, said that his family will also abandon it fearing of more landslides in the future.

Danny said that there is another mountain, which he fears might also fall on them anytime soon.

Barangay Mayana is two kilometers from the main road known as Manipis. Only motorcycles for hire and four-wheel-drive vehicles can be used to go to the place.

Mayor Chiong said that their social welfare office will be assessing the damage brought by the landslide to determine how much financial assistance will be given to the victims.

Others listed as owners of houses affected by the landslide were Alicia Durado, Dionisia Paring, Librado Cabaluna, Mauricio Gimenez, and Junjun Paring.

A team from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources also checked the site.

Chiong said he doubts if the families would still go back there considering that the area is no longer safe.

The area is also impassable as the road has been covered by the loose soil, he said. (FREEMAN)