Heavy rains cause landslide

CEBU, Philippines - Rapid soil erosion and landslide caused by heavy rains in Barangay Camp 4 in Talisay City, made a portion of the Toledo Wharf Road impassable for motorists and commuters yesterday morning.

Camp 4 Barangay Captain Luciano Cabingatan Jr., in an interview with The FREEMAN, said that residents had to manually remove piles of earth and rocks so that motorists can pass through the area. 

Cabingatan blamed the contractor of the Department of Public Works and Highways for not attending to the P34-million road widening project of the Toledo Wharf access road, which has caused landslide and soil erosion from the mountain. 

The project is seen to help prevent accidents in the narrow portions of the road, which exits to Lutopan in Toledo City.

“Sige sila og conduct og excavation pero wala pa gyud ni nila gihuman. Wala man hinuon damage apan ang mga tawo lisod kaayo iagi nila. Ang mga residente pa’y maoy moirog sa mga bato aron lang makaagi, (They kept on excavating but never finished the project.

Although there is no damage but it is very hard for people to pass through. The residents have to move the rocks just so they could pass.)” Cabingatan said. 

Last year, a landslide also occurred in the neighboring barangay Manipis after a portion of the 50-foot-high hillside collapsed. 

Caballero pass a resolution urging DPWH to follow-up the project saying they just keep on promising to fix it but nothing happens. 

City Councilor Danilo Caballero, who personally visited the site, yesterday said he will pass a resolution in today’s council session asking the DPWH to speed up the road widening in the area.

Motorists usually exercise caution when passing through the Manipis Road, which is narrow and steep.

Like Manipis, Camp 4 is a hilly village, which is about 10 kilometers from the national highway, is considered one of the landslide-prone areas in Talisay City.  (FREEMAN)