Buhisan relocation pushing through

CEBU, Philippines — The officials of Barangay Buhisan, Cebu City are now working on the relocation site of the affected residents in Sitio Sandayong after tension cracks were found in a mountain near their residences.

Yesterday, Buhisan Barangay Captain Gremar Barete told reporters that they are negotiating with the owners of at least two identified relocation areas for his constituents.

These areas are located in Sitio Dulhugan and Sitio Tubod.

Barete said the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CCDRRMO) is expected to inspect the area to ensure that it is safe for habitation.

“Mao to ako giingon nga mag-survey pa si sir Nagiel Bañacia (CCDRRMO head) kung unsa ba gyud ka-safe ang area, naa mi gi-negotiate karon ang lot owners, nisugot na,” he said.

As early as 2013, cracks were found at the top of the slope due to the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Visayas.

Barete is hopeful that the inspection of the identified sites will happen next week so that they can transfer the affected individuals to prevent a repeat of the Naga landslide incident.

Earlier, Bañacia told The FREEMAN that they are coordinating with the barangay about the matter.

He even said the city government, through the savings of the CCDRRMO account, will shoulder the expenses for the construction of the new shelters of these residents.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña, for his part, also posted on his Facebook account detailing that they are on the process of relocating the residents.

“The process of relocating the Buhisan residents who are in proximity to this crack has begun. We are coordinating with barangay officials to make the moving of the 30+ families as painless for them as possible,” his post read.

Despite the efforts of the city government as well as the barangay, Barete said 80 percent of the affected residents are uncooperative.

In order to address this concern, Barete is planning to conduct a meeting with them along with the CCDRRMO and Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office-7.

“By next week, magpa-meeting ko sa tanan with person of authority like the MGB and CCDRRMO kay usa pud sila mopasabot sa mga tawo nga naa diha gapuyo,” he said.

That is why, Barete is hopeful that MGB-7 can issue an updated recommendation to them so that they can implement it as soon as possible.

As of now, residents are still staying in their respective structures located right below the slope where the cracks are found.

“Mao sad na akong gipugngan pud nga ma-panic sila kay wala pa nato maandam ang area sa relocation,” Barete said.

In a separate interview, Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office head Nida Cabrera told The FREEMAN that there are 40 affected households based on their ongoing tagging.

They also tallied an estimated 200 to 300 affected individuals.

CCENRO facilitated the profiling and household tagging for documentation purposes. — GAN (FREEMAN)