MGB: Franciscans should evacuate San Jose building

CEBU, Philippines - Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 Regional Director Loreto Alburo yesterday recommended the immediate evacuation of the occupants of the three-story building of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Barangay San Jose, Cebu City, as the area where the building sits is still an active landslide zone.

He also recommended the construction of a retaining wall to stabilize the slope after it was found out that the previous one was inferior and substandard.

These recommendations came after an ocular inspection conducted by a team from MGB-7 composed of senior science research specialist geologist Abraham Lucero Jr. and engineer Mario Bacus.

Alburo said the steep slopes, weak rock strength due to fractures and composition and poor soil cohesion may trigger a landslide and most landslides occur because of a combination of these causes. 

Alburo said that usually there is no single factor that causes a landslide and heavy rainfall may also aggravate it.

The team also noted that the soil type is porous and easily saturated resulting to landslides given prolonged rainfall. They also said the building should be occupied only after structural and engineering measures shall have been instituted.

“The safety of the orphans is above all important and until such time that the building including the physical environment there is stabilized that would be the time they may go back,” the team said in their report submitted to Alburo.

Alburo also advised the communities living near the foot of the mountain and other critical areas to be at all times vigilant and cautious as landslides occur without warning. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources already issued a warning to all local government units to declare as “no habitation zones” areas in their respective municipalities and cities that have been identified as high-risk to landslides and flashfloods.

A directive issued by Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje appealed to local officials to consider the relocation sites identified by the MGB in order to minimize the adverse impact of geological hazards on the people.

“I am appealing to the LGUs to make use of the geohazard maps distributed by the DENR in order to avoid loss of lives and properties especially at this critical time when the typhoons passing the country trigger heavy precipitation on land,” Paje said.

In Cebu City, 19 barangays are highly susceptible landslides, namely, Lusaran, Binaliw, Guba, Budlaan, Malubog, Buot-Taup, Busay, Sirao, Taptap, Tagbao, Tabunan, Pung-ol Sibugay, Sudlon II, Sudlon I, Sinsin, Buhisan, Pamutan, Sapangdaku, and Adlawon. Barangays Tagjaguimit, Alpaco, Balirong, Mayana, Naalad, and Cogon in Naga City; 11 barangays in Balamban: Hingatmonan, Lamesa, Luca, Ginatilan, Cabasiangan, Matun-og, Cansomoroy, Gaas, Magsaysay, Cabagdalan, and Duangan; five barangays in Toledo City: Tungkay, Pangamihan, Bagacay, Loay and Don Andres Soriano; Lamac in Pinamungahan; five barangays in Asturias: Agbanga, Baye, Bairan, Kanluangan and Sak-sak; 12 barangays in Catmon: Amancion, Anapog, Bactas, Bongyas, ambangkaya, Cabungaan, Can-ibuang, Duyan, Ginabucan, Panalipan, Tabili and Tinabyonan.

All mountain barangays in Talisay City and Brgy. Doldol, Purok 3 in Dumanjug; and Cansalonoy in Ronda are also considered.

There are five barangays in Cebu City that are considered to be most hazardous to flooding and these are Kasambagan, Kinasang-an, Labangon, Mabolo, and Bonbon; and seven barangays in Mandaue City to include Subangdaku, Mantuyong, Umapad, Opao, Alang-alang, Guizo, and Pakna-an. (FREEMAN)