Talisay residents warned of landslide-prone areas

CEBU, Philippines – Due to the continuing occurrence of heavy rains in Metro Cebu, the Talisay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council issued a warning to residents in landslide-prone areas to stay vigilant.

Catalino “Vince” Monterde of the CDRRMC yesterday told The Freeman that his office received an incident report about two persons, riding a motorcycle through Barangay Campo 4, who sustained injuries when rocks and stones fell on them.

Lester Cabingatan, 26, and his 11-year-old brother, sustained minor injuries from the incident. They are now out of danger but are still confined in a private hospital. “So we are advising motorists to be very extra careful in passing the area,” Monterde said.

The other day, a downpour also flooded major thoroughfares in Metro Cebu and elsewhere, as well as caused damaged to a riprap structure at Barangay Maghaway where two houses were also affected.

Rose Fe Rosas, whose family has been living in the area for more than nine years already, said she first heard sounds of falling rocks and soil into her house. The family was able to flee the area in time as the incident occurred.

Monterde said the City Engineering Office is now preparing plans for the repair and rehabilitation of the damaged rip-rap structure. The damaged portion will be filled and reinforced to prevent further destruction and collapse, he said.

The series of heavy rainfall that hit the city over the past days, plus a number of other factors, contributed to the weakening and eventual collapse of the rip-rap structure, said Monterde.

Maghaway and Campo 4 are among the barangays identified as highly susceptible to landslides and rock fall.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has already issued a warning to residents in landslide-prone areas to be on alert against initial signs of any landslide or soil movement, such as unusual or uneven ground protrusions.

Monterde said the city also planned to reactivate the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils in every barangay to let them have their own DRRM plans for implementation.