DENR declares Negros village an 'active landslide site'

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has found an almost 700-hectare area in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental to be an “active landslide site.”

The continuing earth movement and ground cracks in Barangay Quintin Remo, detected after the onslaught of typhoon “Jolina,” have raised fears of an impending disaster. 

A team of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Western Visayas went to the barangay, particularly Sitio Manaol, early this week to assess the extent of the huge cracks.

While the municipal council has passed a resolution declaring the area a danger zone, the ground cracks have triggered curiosity among Negrenses who have been trekking to the village to get pictures and video footages.

This prompted the DENR to call on Moises Padilla Mayor Francisco Nazareno to put up warning signs declaring the area a danger zone and to post guards to keep the people away. 

The DENR recommended that all residents living within 500 meters from the edges of the moving mass or observed cracks must be evacuated and must not return to the area, even to work, especially during the rainy season. So far, 47 families have been evacuated.