Residents won’t leave danger zone

The local government of Taguig declared the Palar Area in Barangay Western Bicutan a "danger zone" as residents continue to defy orders to evacuate an area near the perimeter wall, a portion of which collapsed and caused a mudslide.

Engineer Marcelo Serpajuan said continuous heavy rains caused the foundation of the perimeter wall to erode. Part of the wall collapsed over the weekend causing a mudslide that left houses of 23 families in knee-deep mud.

No casualties were reported.

Serpajuan said a 20-meter stretch of the wall now shows visible signs of cracks that may result in another collapse as torrential rains continue to pour, endangering the lives of residents in the area.

"Due to the impending threat it poses to the lives of residents as well as houses and other structures, it is crucial for families to vacate the site in order to give way for the city government to demolish the wall and carry out the necessary engineering work in the area to keep the place fit for human settlement," the city engineer explained.

Families have started cleaning the floors of their houses, where mud has dried up.

Fifty-year-old Cora Rapisora, a housewife, said they have no intention of leaving their houses.

"We have homes and we don’t think we are really in danger here. Relocating is not the solution to the problem," she stressed.

Instead, Rapisora said, the city government should call the attention of the developer of the adjacent property to fix the problem. Residents blamed development there for the collapse of the perimeter wall and the mudslide in the area.

"Officials should check the site and come up with possible remedies they can apply. Their engineers should do something about it. They are the ones who should be held responsible for this," she said.

Serpajuan said they have written the property developer to discuss the reconstruction of the damaged wall, which some residents had used as walls for their houses.

Last Monday, Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga mobilized the Fort Bonifacio Satellite Government Center, led by Paul Michael Vasquez, and officials of Barangay Western Bicutan, under chairwoman Marlyn Padlan, to evacuate residents to the Pinagsama or EP Housing covered courts.

Tiñga said that while work on the reinforcement of the perimeter wall is being conducted, a public housing program would be implemented in the area to ensure the safety of residents living near the 800-meter perimeter wall leading to C-5 Road.