Flooding worries Kalunasan folk

CEBU, Philippines - An ongoing subdivision construction in flood-prone barangay Kalunasan caused nearby residents to worry about their safety as rainy season comes.

Mariz Taburnal from Sitio Upper Kalunasan said she panicked yesterday afternoon as downpour caused water to enter their piggery right below Villa Monares.

“Gikan ko nangompra ganina (Saturday afternoon). Nagdali kog pauli pagkakita nako nga dako kaayog dag-um kay basin og muulan. Nakuyawan na gyud ming daan usa na ka bulan kay basin matabunan sa landslide among babuyan,” Taburnal told The Freeman. (I rushed home, fearing the downpour. Landslide might hit us in a month’s time.)

She added that she rushed to the area when rains started since a family is staying at their property.

“Akong gidali pagkuha ang mga bata nga nagpuyo didto kay misulod na man ang tubig sa payag,” she further narrated. (We told the family to evacuate especially the children, as water started to get inside the house.)

Taburnal said they have raised their concern to the barangay but did not get any action until water started to enter their property.

“Nanawag na mi ana sa barangay hall aron matan-aw ang among sitwasyon kay lisud kaayo magpanguyawan ta nga mudahili ang yuta unya matabunan among property,” she added. (We informed the barangay hall, fearing there might be a landslide.)

The almost two-hectare development with about 150 units is a project of Monares and Sons Realty Development Incorporated, owned by Kalunasan barangay captain Nunilon Monares, Jr.

Monares denied the occurrence of a landslide caused by a quarrying activity.

“Wala koy quarrying dinhi. This is a site development. Nag-construct man gud mi og housing. Naay ninglihok nga yuta unya nadala ang tubig padulong sa ilang babuyan. Dili man ni siya ingon nga landslide. Naa lay nadala nga tubig sa yuta,” he explained. (There’s no landslide and there’s no quarry activity.)

Monares said the ongoing development near the piggery is for the subdivision’s drainage heading downhill.

“Naa man koy ibutang nga drainage padung nganhi sa ubos. Ako ning i-fill up dayon butangan og drainage then takuban aron naa siya sa ilawm. Doul na siya sa ilang babuyan. Ang akong plano, kung musugot sila ako nang ipasaka ilang yuta aron matupong sa drainage,” he said.

The barangay captain said he is exploring the possibility of buying the 100-square meter property of the Taburnals so that they will no longer be worried.

“Nagkita man mi sa iyang bana. Ila na man ning gitanyag sa una nga ibaligya ang ilang luna. Willing ra man ko mupalit sa ilang property aron dili na sila mabalaka og maunsa sila. Ingon sila sa Lunes daw sila mu-feedback nako kung musugot ba sila nga ibaligya or dili,” he said, adding if the couple does not want to sell their property, he will pay for the piggery structure which will be affected by the drainage construction.

Monares assured his constituents that his development project will not create danger of landslide or flooding in the area.

A barangay official who wished not to be named, however, said residents have been complaining about the project which has contributed to the recent flooding in their barangay.

“For me, duna gyuy danger alang sa mga nagpuyo sa duol. Kay diha man sa kilid muagi ang mga taga Sitio Dapdap unya maglisud na silag tabok especially kung muulan tungod sa tubig ug yuta,” the official told The Freeman.

He added that the city government has issued a cease and desist order for the project in 2011 but had no idea why the construction has continued until now.

“Residents have written a complaint given to the media during that time but wala ra man to nahatag og hustisya,” the official continued, hoping that the city government will help them in their concern.  (FREEMAN)