Despite fears of landslides widening of access road in Talisay City to continue

CEBU, Philippines  - The ongoing road widening project of the Talisay-Toledo Wharf Access Road will continue despite apprehensions Talisay City officials have that it might cause landslides in mountain barangays. 

This was the assessment of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Second Engineering District chief Daisy Toledo who told Vice Mayor Alan Bucao that DPWH cannot stop the project.

She said the subcontractor of the project has already cleared the road of debris caused by previous landslides. 

QM Builders is the official contractor of the DPWH in the ongoing P52.6-million road widening project of the Talisay-Toledo Wharf Access Road. 

Last Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon, two landslides occurred in sitio Camp 5 in barangay Camp 4. However, the contractor already cleared the area. 

In an interview with The Freeman, Bucao said he called Toledo to ask for an assessment of the landslides at the site.

Bucao said he fears the weather will continue to be uncooperative and could cause more landslides in these high-risk areas.

Since DPWH will continue with the project, Bucao asked Mayor Socrates Fernandez to issue an executive order for the regulation of traffic in the area. 

Barangay Camp 4 captain Jun Cabingatan is against a temporary closure of the Talisay-Toledo Wharf Access Road to vehicular traffic while landslides continue to threaten the area.

Cabingatan said closing the area to motorists will affect a lot of residents and motorists who cross the area from Talisay, Toledo, and Cebu City, through barangay Sinsin.  

Because of this, Bucao said motorists may be allowed to pass by the area until 4 in the afternoon. 

Councilor Danny Caballero hopes QM Builders will finish the work quickly.

Caballero said residents in the area blame QM Builders’ excavations for the landslides. (FREEMAN)