DENR to probe Iloilo mudslide

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered an investigation into the mudslide that swept through Iloilo during the onslaught of typhoon “Frank” last week.

DENR Undersecretary for Line Bureaus Manuel Gerochi told reporters that their regional employees have been deployed in the province to determine the source of the mudflow that forced residents to evacuate.

“We are trying to investigate where (the mudflow) came from because prior to the incident there was no logging in Panay... There is no mining (there) also, (if there are any) exploration stage lang, which (could not have) caused such an incident,” he said.

Church leaders and environmental experts earlier blamed the mudslide on mountains being stripped of trees to make way for mining and logging operations.

But even if there might be some quarrying operations in Iloilo, Gerochi said these activities are not in the mountains.

He said DENR records show that no logs have been confiscated on Panay island.

Even “from the start” Gerochi said small mountains in Iloilo have already been denuded, except the Panay mountain range, which stretches from San Joaquin to Aklan and whose forest cover is still considered “okay.”

“We will find out. Is it (really about) the holding (of water) or the drainage?” said Gerochi, explaining that the Tagum and Aganan rivers, which converge toward the Iloilo River, usually overflow due to massive housing developments near them.