2 bridges destroyed in the province; more landslides occur in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines – Two bridges have been destroyed in the southern towns of Alegria and Malabuyoc while two more incidents of landslides occurred in Cebu City because of heavy rains brought about by the typhoon "Juan" that is threatening the northern Luzon.

The heavy downpour has caused soil erosion in sitio Tumanduk, Barangay Legaspi, Alegria destroying an under construction concrete bridge. Another bridge was damaged in Barangay Montañeza, Malabuyoc after the river overflowed Saturday.

Passenger buses and private vehicles were reportedly stranded for several hours in Alegria because the bridge is no longer passable. A Ceres bus has to be towed by the Department of Public Works and Highways after it got stuck in the mud.

DPWH personnel have to use an improvised bridge Malabuyoc for the commuters coming from Cebu City to cross the river. Reports reaching the Cebu Provincial Police Office have it that the passengers to and from Cebu City have to transfer vehicles on the other side of the river because the bridge is not passable.

Meanwhile, two more landslides were reported in the roads of Barangay Kalunasan and Sapangdaku making it impassable to vehicles.

The Cebu City Disasters Coordinating Council was however able to immediately send personnel and equipments to clear the area. Another portion of a road in sitio Baksan, Sapangdaku also caved in.

Filling was immediately conducted to level the portion that caved-in while large vehicles were warned to take another route as authorities are uncertain of the stability of the ground.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama issued a general storm advisory directing all barangays, specially those flash flood prone and landslide prone areas, to inform their constituents of the current weather condition that may bring flooding and landslides.

"In order to better inform or warn your communities, you are reminded to disseminate there through local or community leaders and through your barangay vehicles with public address system," Rama said.

He also directed all barangays to activate their respective disaster brigades as well as the volunteers to undertake monitoring and precautionary measures in their area of responsibility.

"This is an opportunity for you to prove to your constituents that you are in command and in control of the demands in your areas during disasters as you meet their immediate needs," Rama told barangays officials.

CCDCC executive officer Alvin Santillana earlier complained that some barangay officials are too dependent to the city government when they have their own disaster brigades and they have their own calamity fund that is intended for these kinds of emergencies.

Santillana said that the CCDCC is doing its part in monitoring the affected areas and immediately sending personnel therein. He stressed that theirs is supposed to only assist the barangay disasters brigades.

Santillana said they need the cooperation of the barangay officials to ensure "zero casualty" because they are covering the 80 barangays of the city.

The CCDCC set up a command post at the City Hall where over 100 personnel are on stand by, ready to be deployed in case of emergencies.

On stand by are personnel from the office of the Mayor, the Department of Engineering and Public Works, the Department of Public Services, the Parks and Playground Committee, the City Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team, the 51st Reserve Marines, the Bureau of Fire, Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, Basak-Pardo Emergency Rescue, City Traffic Operations and Management and the Cebu City Police Office-Mobile Patrol Group.

To report any incident or concern in the city, the CCDCC may be reached at 255-6983, 254-8637, 412-1998 and 255-6984. - Mellanie C. Rosales, Jessica Ann R. Pareja/FPL (FREEMAN)