Families asked to seek higher ground

CEBU, Philippines - For the third consecutive weekend, Cebu City experienced landslide due to heavy downpour.

An uninhabited shanty collapsed Saturday 8 o’clock in the evening at Sitio Tipolo Singson, barangay Guadalupe.

Despite having no one inside when the soil erosion occurred, barangay captain Michael Gacasan decided to ask nearby homes to seek safer ground.

“Three families were asked to temporarily leave their homes since these were located right at the riverbanks. They did not want to stay at the barangay sports complex so we allowed them to spend the night at their relatives nearby,” Gacasan said.

The evacuees’ houses were located just below the collapsed shanty and they feared their homes might be destroyed while they sleep.

Except for a woman who scratched her feet while helping the affected families, no injury was recorded at the soil erosion incident.

Responding  to the incident a few minutes after were barangay tanods, fire rescue, as well as city disaster risk reduction officers, Gacasan said.

The morning after, another landslide affected the backfilled rear portion of Toong Elementary School also caused by overnight rains.

Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (LDRRMO) responded to the 10 a.m. landslide that blocked a footpath below the downhill.

“The landslide area was 25 to 30 meters from the road. We cordoned the area so that residents will not pass by. We also agreed with barangay captain to deploy barangay tanods to ensure no one especially children gets near,” city response crew Prince Francis Alfred Burlat said.

Acting mayor Edgar Labella personally inspected the extent of damage in barangay Toong shortly after the landslide was reported.

Burlat added that it was not the first time a landslide was recorded considering it was backfilled as part of school perimeter.

With the series of soil erosion and landslide near Guadalupe River, Gacasan urged city government to strictly enforce three-meter easement zone.

“The barangay cannot do this on our own. We need the support of the city government. We already partnered with the developer of Monterrazas in conducting training especially for sitios prone to flooding and landslide,” the Guadalupe barangay captain said.

He added that trainings have started Saturday with Camotes vice mayor Al Arquillano, a Sasakawa Awardee for risk reduction and is aimed to finish next month.

Priority sitios that have benefitted from the pioneer seminar were Sambag II, Kamanggahan, Glena Hills, Mahayahay, and Dakit, Gacasan said. (FREEMAN)