30 families in Buhisan requested to evacuate

CEBU, Philippines - Around 150 residents, whose houses in Sitio Sandayong, Barangay Buhisan are near the tension cracks that were recently discovered, have been requested by authorities to evacuate to safer ground. 

Newly-sworn in Buhisan barangay captain Glemar Barete yesterday met with the 30 families whose houses have been determined by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as highly susceptible to landslide and falling rocks due to the tension cracks that were located in Sitio Dulhugan, which is right above Sitio Sandayong. 

"Nag-meeting ta sa mga affected residents aron mapasabot sa ilaha ang kapiligro sa ilang nahimutangan. Nasabutan sa tanan nga kada gabii, anhi matulog ang mga residents sa barangay hall and sports complex unya inig ka adlawan, pwede ra sila mubalik didto," Barete told The Freeman.

DENR-7 spokesperson Eddie Llamedo stressed on the need for the public to follow the advice of proper authorities.

"It is important that communities should heed the advice of letting them out of the hazards to prevent loss of lives," DENR 7 spokesperson Eddie Llamedo said.

Yesterday, three officers from Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office cordoned three areas where huge limestone rocks and soil slid down.

The first cordon was 10 meters long and was placed near two houses in the upper portion of the Sitio Sandayong, a few meters from the tension crack.

Buhisan barangay tanod Mateo Tampus said of the two houses, one family has voluntarily left their home immediately after the powerful October 15 magnitude 7.2 earthquake that jolted Central Visayas.

The second cordon was 30 meters long and was placed near several houses beside the basketball court while the third cordon was 10 meters long near the foot bridge which leads to the main barangay road.

While CCDRRMO installed the cordon, residents told The Freeman that they have not had proper sleep at night since the Oct. 15 earthquake.

"Mga bata pa intawon ni akong lima ka anak. Makuyawan mi ini’g ka gabii labi na kung mukusog ang ulan. Wala na gud mi tarong tulog pirmi," said 36-year-old Nicole Manayaga.

The residents added that they are willing to relocate as long as proper evacuation is provided by local officials.

"Kung dunay tarong nga kabalhinan, willing ra gyud mi mobakwit. Labi na kay delikado kaayo," stressed Judith Daclan, 45 years old, whose house is near the basketball court.

Last December 2, MGB senior geologist Abraham "Jun" Lucero inspected the tension crack site and recommended for immediate evacuation.

"The MGB-7 has recommended for immediate evacuation and relocation of about 30 households located below a 'new' landslide in Sitio Sandayong, Barangay Buhisan. This came after the October 15 earthquake where in a landslide occurred with an affected area of .5 hectare. It is located 100 meters east of 'old' landslide. No casualty but damage a dirty kitchen of one house. Tension cracks are located east of crown of recent landslide," Llamedo added.

Earlier, CCDRRMC chairman Councilor Dave Tumulak and Harold Alcontin of Management Information and Computer Services (MICS) conducted ocular inspection and geographic information system (GIS) mapping and measured the tension crack to be .4 meters wide and more than 10 meters long.

Tumulak recommended immediate evacuation and further technical assessment by MGB, a call echoed by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama. (FREEMAN)