Agsungot-Binaliw road closure urged

CEBU, Philippines - The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) -7 has recommended the immediate closure of the road connecting Barangays Agsungot and Binaliw in Cebu City, until repairs are made.

A landslide threat advisory was issued yesterday as a result of MGB-7’s assessment and recommendations. Residents were advised to keep a close watch and to exercise extra caution when passing by the area.

Senior Geologist Maria Elena Lupo said that the slope by the road in Sitio Binaliw 3 is unstable and still moving.

She said that September last year, geo-hazard mapping and assessment showed Binaliw 3 and Sitios Mansawa and Campo are high risk areas.

Lupo said a road widening project has resulted to an almost vertical and unstable slope, exposing weathered and loose rocks.

“As we can see in our field investigation now, no slope protection measures were implemented since then,” she said.

MGB-7 recommended continuous monitoring; installation of warning signs 10 to 15 meters before the active landslide zone; securing the zone with caution tape to keep vehicles from passing very near the foot of the slope; implement a one-way traffic flow; and clear the road of landslide debris immediately.

It also said that while the materials are still being hauled away, the affected road should be closed to traffic.

In a field investigation Thursday, Lupo and fellow Senior Geologist Josephine T. Aleta noted a 15- to 20-meter vertical slope that drops by the side of a road widened by around three meters.

They observed that an area along the slope face was damp, which means water seepage is slowly taking place; this causes soil to soften and slide.

MGB-7 Director Loreto B. Alburo said mass movements such as landslides are usually aided by water, weathering or erosion of slope cover, and by certain characters and structures of rocks.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 Spokesperson Ed Llamedo, on the other hand, said the most recent landslide, which happened last August 14, covered almost the entire stretch of the road.

He said the area was constantly cleared of debris and the road was further widened.

Binaliw Barangay Captain Wilson Bacor told him the materials were utilized as road fillers in other mountain barangays.

Lupo said proper slope angling should be observed when removing the landslide debris, which should be strictly monitored or controlled as this could instead lead to a landslide.

She also said that traffic re-routing and having an alternate route for affected residents should be properly evaluated. She said slope stability measures should be implemented immediately.— /RHM (FREEMAN)