Soil, rocks slide off, damage hill houses

CEBU, Philippines - Because of heavy rains in the past days, a landslide and rockslide damaged at least two houses in Campo 4, Barangay Manipis, Talisay City yesterday morning.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources earlier  declared the mountain area as critical zone.  

City Councilor Danilo Caballero, who inspected the site yesterday morning, said heavy rains may have loosened soil in the excavated portion of the area and caused the landslide.

Several motorists, including students and teachers going to Manipis proper and some areas in Toledo City, were stranded because of the rocks and soil that blocked the road.

Manipis Barangay Captain Emmie Cabiluna said the movement of the soil started at 6:30 in the morning until it gave up and covered the whole portion of the road.

Fortunately, no one was hurt during the incident.

The area was still part of the ongoing road widening project undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways whose contractor is QM Builders.

The project covers the road from Barangay Lagtang in Talisay City to Toledo City.

One of the victims, Julita Hipulan, 38, said her house was damaged when it was hit by a boulder.

The boulder also hit a portion of the house of a certain Josefina, 70.

Hipulan said they were lucky because they were all awake when the rock smashed their house.

Hipulan's house is one of the houses authorities have considered to be in danger. There are eight other houses and nine families living in the land and rockslide area.

Willy Abatayo, supervisor of QM Builders, said they could not really determine when a tragedy may hit. However, he said there are portions of the mountain where soil is solid and soft.

He said they will be benching the whole area to prevent the movement of the soil and rocks. (FREEMAN)