MGB-7 warns on Buhisan cracks

CEBU, Philippines - The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-7 yesterday issued a landslide threat advisory on nearby areas of the recently-discovered tension cracks in Sitio Sandayong, Barangay Buhisan , Cebu City.

It reiterated an earlier recommendation for the immediate evacuation of families to keep them away from danger.

MGB's initial recommendations include immediate evacuation of residents near the cracks, development of an early warning system; constant communication and updates with the barangay and city officials on the geohazard situation; regular monitoring for old and newly developed tension cracks by barangay officials; and extra vigilance by residents, especially during heavy and continuous rains.

The advisory was signed by State Geologist Abraham "Jun" Lucero, who lead a Geohazards Mapping and Assessment Team (GMAT)  last Dec. 2 to check the cracks, which appeared after a landslide that followed the powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake that shook Cebu and Bohol last Oct. 15.

The MGB inspection was   meant to verify results of an initial inspection by City Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CCDRRMC) in the last week of November.

Upon seeing the two tension cracks, Tumulark recommended to Mayor Michael Rama the immediate evacuation of residents and sought a technical inspection by MGB.

Upon reading the MGB advisory yesterday, Tumulak said he wants an assurance from the concerned government agency on the proper actions to take to ensure safety of residents.

"This (yesterday) morning, I talked with Barangay Captain Glemar Barete. He proposed conducting an inventory of residents in Sitio Sandayong and Sitio Puti for the purpose of identifying the actual number of individuals affected by the dangers of the tension cracks," Tumulak said.

He did not agree on Barete having residents to sign a waiver acknowledging that they are aware of the dangers of a potential landslide occurring in their neighborhood.

That was after the residents refused to heed the recommendation of barangay officials that they stay at the barangay sports complex at night to ensure their safety.

"That (signing of a waiver) is not right because as barangay chief he has to exhaust all remedies and solution to prevent danger (to his constituents)," the former Basak Pardo barangay captain said.

Further, Tumulak reiterated that under Republic Act 10121, or the Disaster Risk Reduction Law, barangay officials could still be held liable should a calamity occur and claim lives despite prior advisories.

In a separate interview, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said the MGB recommendation to evacuate residents should be "very seriously noted" as a "precautionary rather than reactionary" measure.

The City Government, through the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor, is arranging for the possible relocation of affected residents.

"We will let the residents choose among the city-owned relocation sites. But before allowing relocation, CCDRRMC will have to check its safety to prevent a similar situation as what happened in Compostela Valley where the relocation site was also a calamity-prone," Tumulak said.

CCDRRMC Operations Officer Alvin Santillana said their office is still waiting for the thorough report of MGB's Dec. 2 inspection because Lucero has yet to complete it due to his busy schedule.

"We will be installing flaglets at the tension crack site to determine any movement of soil. We will do this while evacuation is underway," Santillana said.

Last Friday, CCDRRMC cordoned off the residential area right below the tension crack in Sitio Sandayong near a basketball court.- December 9, 2013. (FREEMAN)