School and houses in Sinsin threatened

CEBU, Philippines - A public school and two houses are in danger of collapsing due to the consistent earth movement in a hilly area in Sitio Sangi, barangay Sinsin, Cebu City.

A portion of the road down the hill where the school is located also continues to erode, now reaching up to a meter deep and stretching six to seven meters.

The damaged portion of the road makes it difficult for vehicles to pass because it occupies one whole lane at one point.

This road is an access road to Toledo City. Heavy trucks usually pass by the area on the way to the mainland.

The Barangay Affairs Unit (BAU) of the Office of the Mayor reported that during their ocular inspection in the area early this week, they observed a “clear consistent earth movement in the area” where the school and two houses are located.

If the city shall experience incessant rains again, barangay officials fear that the area might totally erode, affecting the school and the houses. Residents refuse to abandon the place despite the risk.

Barangay officials asked the City Government’s assistance to fix the road and to possibly construct a slope protection to protect it from soil erosion.

The road is not paved and the BAU recommended to put filling materials on the damaged portion for the meantime until they are able to find a budget for road concreting.

About two trucks of filling materials are expected to be consumed to level the area.

BAU said they requested the Department of Engineering and Public Works to create a Program of Works and Estimates for the slope protection and road concreting.

This road was reportedly a river in the past but was reclaimed to create a road.

Barangay Sinsin is also one of the landslide-prone barangays in the city. Barangay officials admit that landslides always occur in the area due to lack of slope protection. (FREEMAN)