Eight landslides the past five days

CEBU, Philippines - At least eight landslides have been recorded in Cebu City since Thursday last week.

City Councilor David Tumulak, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council head, said three landslides occurred in Barangay Sapangdaku; two in Barangay Babag; and one each in Barangays Busay, Sudlon 2, and Tagbao.

He said moderate and heavy rains triggered the incidents, which fortunately were just minor ones and neither injured anyone nor damaged properties.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources earlier disclosed that 14 of the city’s 80 barangays are both susceptible to both landslide and flood.

Eddie Llamedo, DENR-7 public affairs chief, identified the barangays as Adlaon, Apas, Banilad, Buot, Cambinocot, Guadalupe, Guba, Labangon, Pamutan, Pit-os, Pulangbato, Quiot, Sapangdaku, and Toong.

Yesterday, Mayor Michael Rama suspended classes early afternoon in all levels of public and private schools in the city.

This, after Mactan Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration Chief Oscar Tabada called and informed Rama that a low pressure area affecting Eastern Visayas will also affect the city.

“Ang LPA naa karon sa Eastern Samar, and ang rain diameter is dako gyod kaayo (The low pressure area is currently in Eastern Samar but its rain diameter is really very huge),” Tabada said in their conversation with Rama that the mayor placed on loudspeaker for reporters to hear.

Tabada said a cloudy weather condition is expected to be felt in Cebu and Central Visayas today, similar to what was experienced yesterday, and even if the LPA is not expected to directly hit Cebu, the province would experience heavy rain.

That prompted the mayor to order the suspension of classes, saying it is best to anticipate and be ready than not at all.

“Heavy rain is coming; it should be all levels para walay basol. Kon dili gani maabot, aw maayo, at least ang mga tao nakauli na sa ilang balay (so there is no blaming later on.  If the rain does not come, good; at least the people have gone home already),” Rama said.

Even the PAGASA Central Office advisory noted that both Eastern and Central Visayas will be affected.

Tabada said that while PAGASA has no authority to suspend classes, their protocol dictates that they can advise the local chief executives based on weather forecast and their assessment on the situation and dangers in their locality.

“Just like what happened to Cebu City, Councilor Dave (Tumulak) called me up today and asked about the weather condition in the city. I told him that it will be rainy and that this might pose danger to students and residents especially in the mountain barangays and coastal areas. Then Mayor Mike (Rama) called me up to consult me as he was contemplating on suspending classes,” Tabada said.

Per assessment by PAGASA Visayas, Central Visayas, including Cebu, has 85 percent probability of experiencing rains yesterday afternoon until the evening.

“We should be proactive and not wait for any disaster to happen. If we can prevent it, that would be very good. Kaysa ayha pa ta molihok nga nagbaha na ug nag-landslide simbako. Tungod sa continuous rains, mihumok na ang mga yuta maong kuyaw sa landslide. Mas maayong managana (It should not be that we only act when it is already flooding or there is landslide already. Continuous rain has made the soil loose now so the risk of landslides is high),” Tabada said.

Tumulak said that as early as 6 a.m. yesterday, the city’s command center already informed the barangays to be alert because of the LPA.

He revealed, though, that eight barangays did not heed their advice to purchase handheld radios so that the city could communicate with them just in case regular means of communication fails.

“By the time of disaster, nag-expect man ta og walay communication and walay landline, maong maka-standby sila sa atong emergency communication sa atong disaster frequency through sa handheld radio,” Tumulak said.

“Naa may wala namalit. Pwede raman unta na nilang ikuha sa (There are those who did not purchase the radios when they could just use their) disaster fund nilam” he added.

He identified the barangays as Bulacao, Budlaan, Day-as, Kamagayan, Lahug Adlaon, Malubog, Pulangbato, and Sirao.

Meanwhile, Rama said that he would present to the public the drainage projects and committee reports that were either blocked or not acted upon by the city council to clear things out.

“Atong hatagan og copy ang barangays, and mga tao, so that everyone will know that the mayor is doing his job, but there are some people that are not doing their job, unya they are doing their job in blocking,” he said.

The City Council has halted six drainage projects costing P12.1 million because of lack of justification in the sources of funds to finance them.

City Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias, committee on infrastructure chairman, requested for funding of the projects for the rehabilitation and construction of drainage systems in the city last April 30. However, the council deferred approval due to questions on funding sources.

The projects involved a drainage system (1.27 million) in Barangay Kinasang-an, and completion of road concreting with drainage system in Barangay Lusaran (P2.4 million) and in Barangay Paril (2.5 million).

The council has set an executive session on September 5 to deliberate over the matter. — /RHM (FREEMAN)