Landslide, flood advisories out in Cebu City, Agsungot-Binaliw road to be closed to traffic

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through its Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has issued anew landslide and flood threat advisories to local government units in Central Visayas.

The advisory was addressed to the four governors and 134 city and town mayors in Region 7.

“We sent out a reiteration on the geohazards threat advisories to all local chief executives in this region to get them more familiarized and be acquainted with the summary of the findings and the geohazards maps as a result of the geohazard mapping and assessment program,” said MGB-7 Director Loreto Alburo.

Mining engineers Edgardo Oporto, Edgardo Loquellano, Edward Malahay, and Ramcie Brilliante were deployed to four provinces for the program. Four separate teams, meanwhile, distributed simultaneously the summary on the 1:50,000-scale assessment or the semi-detailed, the 1:10,000-scale or the detailed study, as well as the corresponding maps.

Distribution started last Thursday and was completed the other day, Saturday.

Results of the study were provided to 53 city and municipal mayors in Cebu, 48 in Bohol, 27 in Negros Oriental and six in Siquijor.

Alburo said the local government units were furnished copies of the results of the assessment so local officials can study the findings and implement the recommendations.

DENR-7 Director Dr. Isabelo Montejo said the results and the recommendations  should be properly addressed by the LGUs.

“The results and the recommendations should be properly addressed by our LGUs taking into account the urgency of the mitigating measures to be established to protect the loss of lives and pieces of property,” he said.

“We should not be complacent here noting the findings of the MGB particularly those listed as high to very susceptibility to landslides and flooding,” he added.

Road development,

closure

Meanwhile, following an ocular inspection  at landslide-stricken mountain barangays in Cebu City, private contractors have pledged free hauling and benching of roadside soil threatening motorists and settlers.

“Four companies have agreed with the city government to develop the area for free. They will be given special permits this Tuesday,” City Disaster Risk Reduction Executive Director Simeon Romarate told The Freeman.

Development, Romarate explained, would include hauling of soil that is threatening another landslide as well as benching, similar to what the government did in another landslide prone barangay of Pamutan.

“The mayor wanted it to be finished within the month, before the fiesta in Agsungot so that activities will not be affected. Also he (Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama) does not want to permanently close the road so as not to waste the road concreting project,” he added.

As clearing operation progresses, Romarate said motorists are advised not to take the Agsungot-Binaliw road recently affected by landslide because it will be closed to two-way traffic.

“We would like to advise motorists to take the access roads in Guba or Mabini,” Romarate said.

With the CCDRRMC executive director during the Saturday morning inspection were Councilor Dave Tumulak representing the mayor at the Reduce Danger Zones (ReDZ), Binaliw barangay captain Wilson Bacor, Agsungot barangay captain Jongjong Alcover, Engr. Boy Bacalso from city planning office, Randy Navarro from the city’s department of public services, and Apolo Dante of the city’s engineering office. — (FREEMAN)