10 families should leave Camp 4–DENR

At least ten families have to evacuate a landslide-prone mountain barangay of Talisay City.

Based on the five-kilometer critical zone declared by MGB (Mines and Geosciences Bureau) after a site inspection, a total of 45 households are within the area.

Ten were advised to immediately seek safer grounds, said Eddie Llamedo, spokesman of the Department Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7.

State senior geologists Ma. Elena Lupo and Josephine Aleta Tuesday visited the area after a series of landslides hit barangay Camp 4.

Five families were earlier asked by city officials to transfer to avoid the danger of ecurring landslides.

Of the five, one family refused to move out of the area said City C Semy Cabuenas, who is also the town’s risk reduction officer.

Two options were given to four families who attended the meeting yesterday with city officials.

They can go t o a relocation site in barangay Biasong or stay with relatives in the same barangay but not within the landslide area, city administrator Richel Bacaltos told CDN.

Beatriz Rallos, Carlos Quiapo, Condrada Saballa, Jovencio Navecella represented four families who visited the administrator’s office, said Cabuenas.

Despite the safety concerns, Bacaltos said the city government couldn’t force them to permanently evacuate yhe area because their livelihood was in the area.

“During the meeting, one family said they would take the second option since they have a furniture business in the area,” he said.

But they promised not to spend the night in their homes.

Social workers led by Felipa Solana of the Department of Social Welfare and Development earlier helped convince the four families to leave the area.

Ongoing road expansion work was a factor in the erosion.

MGB inspection findings revealed that aside from rains and weak limestone soil, the construction work “aggravated” the landslide incidents.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) project engineer Marilyn Ojeda earlier denied that road work caused the landslide.

She referred to the recent earthquake.

Talisay city officials are set to meet with contractor QM Builders and the DPWH.

“If not tomorrow (Friday), we will meet with them on Monday. Mayor Soc Fernandez will join in the meeting,” Bacaltos added.

The meeting would take up concerns of homeowners with the contractor and the DPWH, he said.

“They (residents) want to speed up the road expansion project. If it finishes soon, dangers of further landslides will be avoided,” the city administrator exclaimed./with a report from Correspondent Gabriel C. Bonjoc