CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) has released a resolution that seeks to provide emergency road access in Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Apas.
This, after its residents filed a petition letter before the Office of the Mayor to express their plight regarding the alleged closure of their access road.
In January 2025, the residents of Lot 938 A and B and Lot 939 of Purok 6, Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Apas sent a letter to the Office of the City Mayor to request an assistance regarding their concerns.
According to them, they acknowledged and respect the legal rights of Altarica Development Corporation, the new owner of Lot 933.
However, they came forward as residents, saying, they "will be greatly affected" by Altariva’s plan to close the road-right-of-way from the main street of Barangay Apas to the residents' area in Purok 6, which includes Lots 938 A and B, and Lot 939.
"We, the residents of said property, are humbly requesting your good office's understanding and compassion, and that a passage for four-wheeled vehicles be allowed to pass through the said property," the residents' letter read.
They then suggested that, as a precaution, the lot owner could issue a sticker gate pass for one vehicle per household that owns a vehicle, to regulate the vehicles coming in and out of the area.
The residents said it is hard for them to reach the main road in case of emergencies.
In line with this, the CDRRM Office conducted a risk assessment in the area and interviewed the residents themselves.
In the assessment and evaluation, the CDRRMO observed a low to moderate susceptibility to flooding, according to the MGB Geo-Hazard Map. The disaster office also assessed that the owner of the lot where the access road is located is allegedly planning to close the area and install a gate.
It added that the proposed road provided by the landowner to serve as an alternative passageway, once the gate is built and the original road is closed, is narrow, which would make it difficult for emergency vehicles or any kind of vehicle from passing through.
"While exploring the area, we didn't find any other routes for vehicles, as some of the roads were narrow and most of them were dead ends," read the CCDRRMO assessment.
The CDRRMO has recommended the designation of an emergency access road. The recommendation has been endorsed to the Office of the Building Official (OBO) to verify the fencing permit.
The CDRRMO also endorsed the same concern to the City Assessor's Office and to the City Planning and Development Office for further assessment and evaluation.
In the same meeting, the CDRRMC adopted the risk assessment report of the disaster team.
The same resolution also requested the Task Group Reduce Danger Zones (TG-ReDZ), through its Flood Mitigation Division, to conduct an ocular inspection of the concerned area and to submit the results of their investigation to the CDRRMC.
In a statement, Ramil Ayuman, CDRRMC chairman, said the council will furnish a copy of the report to OBO.
"Para aware sila nga di pwede masirad-an. Unya naa pay daghang issue dira, ang drainage asa nila ilabay, kay ang problema nila dira ang drainage," said Ayuman. — /JG (FREEMAN)