7 landslides hit city sitios

CEBU, Philippines - Several houses were destroyed and 10 families were displaced in at least seven incidents of landslides in Cebu City in two days.

This developed as a whirlwind hit sitio Caneba, Cansojong, Talisay City, toppling down a gmelina tree which hit a house Wednesday night.

Following the landslides and flashfloods, Mayor Michael Rama said he is inclined to stop all developments in upland areas.

Around 10:39 a.m., a landslide occurred in San Jose Village, Kalunasan, destroying a house while partially damaging two others.

At about 11:30 am, a perimeter fence collapsed in Villalon Drive, Capitol Site. No major damage or casualty was reported.

Following a heavy downpour Wednesday night, landslides occurred in sitio Lareja and Sandayong in Barangay Guadalupe, sitio Dangking and Baksan of Barangay Sapang-daku and sitio Quinto Limbo in Capitol Site.

One house was damaged in sitio Lareja. The Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council evacuated five families living below the soil that eroded.

In sitio Sandayong, seven families were evacuated while the road was temporarily closed upon the recommendation of the City Traffic Operations Management.

The road is an access road to Sapangdaku and is open only to two-wheel vehicles. Motorists going to Sapangdaku are advised to take the alternative route in Kalunasan.

Officials of Barangay Tisa appealed to Rama yesterday to immediately implement the drainage project in their barangay.

The project is seen to minimize the flooding in eight sitios and villages declared under the state of calamity following last week’s heavy flooding.

These areas are the Tambisan, La Paloma, Lupa, Rocky Hills Subdivision, Lower Phase III, Rivaridge Subdivision, Santa Teresita Village and Purok Sambag.

Monterrazas development           

Tisa Captain Eduardo Cabulao met with City Council committee on infrastructure chairman Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias, and officials of Department of Engineering and Public Works and the City Planning and Development Office to inform them that the barangay is also affected by the development of Monterrazas de Cebu.

Monterrazas de Cebu covers about 200 hectares with portions in Guadalupe, Tisa, Sapangdaku, Buhisan and Labangon.

Tisa residents complained that since the developments in Monterrazas, they have started experiencing up to waist-deep flooding and damages to properties.

Though the areas are naturally flood-prone, the flooding was aggravated by the upland developments, said Romy Quiño of sitio Tambisan.

Cabulao wants the P17-million budget for a drainage project in Tisa be immediately utilized. The budget was appropriated under Supplemental Budget No. 5 last year.

DEPW officials said although the project is ready for implementation, it could not be pursued because they are yet to convince La Paloma Subdivision for a drainage connection.

A memorandum of agreement has been drafted but the problem is there are two organizations claiming to be the legitimate homeowners association.

Cabulao said Monterrazas must also include Tisa in its Environmental Impact Management Plan.

As of the moment, Genvi Pacific Corporation, the developer of Monterrazas de Cebu, only has impact management plan for Guadalupe and Sapangdaku.

Genvi Pacific Corp. is still on its first phase of the project, developing 55 hectares of 200 hectares. The 55 hectares cover Guadalupe and Sapang-daku.

Whirlwind

In Talisay City, Angelita Daan was eating inside her house around 8 p.m. when he heard a noise. When she came out, a huge gmelina tree fell directly into her house the moment it was hit by a whirlwind.

Daan, 45, sustained minor wounds to her knee after she fell due to the strong impact. The incident also caused power interruption in the area

Village councilman Vicen-te Oberes said they already coordinated with the city social welfare office for the assistance of the affected families.

In July 2004, a whirlwind hit some barangays in the city and destroyed several houses.

Rains to continue

Rains will continue pouring into Cebu, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA).

Weather observer Boy Artiaga said there is a southwest monsoon system, or habagat, affecting Visayas and Mindanao.

 Artiaga said strong winds will be followed by isolated rains coupled with thunder and lightning throughout most of Cebu.   — With Liv G. Campo, Ryan Christopher J. Sorote and Mechievilla Carline Benolerao, USJ-R /LPM (FREEMAN)