Ground moved in Naga brgys. by Sun Star

Ground moved in Naga brgys.
By Bernadette A. Parco and Oscar C. Pineda
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

ASIDE from Barangay Bairan, landslides also occurred in two other villages in the City of Naga in the past six months, according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7.

The MGB 7 is monitoring Barangays Bairan, Mayana and Cantao-an where the landslides occurred.

Government geologists inspected yesterday the landslide sites in the three villages and found them to be unstable.

“We will review the geohazard map of MGB 7,” City Mayor Val Chiong told reporters yesterday.

“We will investigate the area, situation of the residents. We will conduct an ocular inspection of the three barangays,” he added.

Natural

MGB 7 senior science research specialist Abraham Lucero Jr. said the landslide in Bairan occurred on Sunday and affected four to five hectares.

Lucero said the incident was a natural occurrence, which affected 11 houses.

He told Chiong yesterday that the area is still considered dangerous since a heavy downpour could trigger another landslide, even though the debris generated by the first incident is already dry.

He also told the mayor that the three or four houses situated near the edge of the landslide area should relocated at once.

Chiong said he was told by residents that the area is also known as Sitio Lusno, because of frequent ground failures that occurred there.

Assistance

The mayor said the City Government will give an assistance of P10,000 each to the eight affected households.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said she will also give assistance to the 11 families in Bairan.

“Giandam na ang magamit dayon: bugas, canned goods, habol (Rice, canned goods and blankets are ready), utensils and others,” said Garcia.

She said she has directed Provincial Social Welfare Officer Marivic Garces to look into the situation.

She said Capitol will also give financial assistance, but the amount will depend on Garces’s recommendation.

The governor spoke with Chiong the other day and told him about the Capitol’s assistance.

Road

Government geologists said the Barangay Mayana landslide occurred on Dec. 7, 2010 and buried 12 houses, affecting about 100 residents.

The incident left an access road leading to Mayana proper impassable.

Chiong asked MGB to assess the site because the residents wanted the main road in the village repaired.

“We will wait for the final report on the stability of the area,” the mayor said.
Mayana is on the boundary between Naga and Toledo City.

The road affected by the landslide is used by farmers who sell their produce in Toledo. It is also used by students from Mayana who attend school at the nearest high school in Barangay Lutopan, Toledo City.

Barangay Councilor Marcelo Victorillo told Sun.Star Cebu that alternative routes are too steep or too far for the villagers.

He said the cost of transporting farm products from Mayana to Toledo could also double.

He said the barangay tries to clear the road by cutting the boulders that fell from the slopes during the landslide.

Move

But Lucero said the original road slumped by a about half a kilometer down the slope.

He expects the ground to move in the next weeks and it would be difficult to determine when the area would be safe.

Households in the area have been relocated. But some families built their houses only about 30 meters from the landslide site. Others moved in with relatives in Toledo City.

Lucero also said the end of the landslide debris in Mayana has reached a creek. “The creek should be monitored because a lake may be formed and this could trigger flash floods later on,” he added.

On Dec. 16, 2010, a landslide occurred in Sitio Tayad-Tayad in Barangay Cantao-an. The incident affected two houses.

Yesterday, MGB 7 officials still observed tension cracks and ground movements.

Geologists recommended that signs be set up to warn people.

The MGB 7 officials attributed the landslides to several factors, including heavy rainfall and type of soil, which is prone to move after absorbing rainfall.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on May 11, 2011.
Click for the link