Mines bureau declares Leyte village no-man’s land

TACLOBAN City, Philippines—Authorities declared the site of a landslide in a small Catbalogan City village as no-man’s land and urged the relocation of several families living there.

Roger de Dios, regional director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, said the area is too dangerous to live in and that another landslide could occur.

De Dios, however, said the MGB role was just to recommend. “It’s up to the city government to heed our recommendation,” he said.

Last Friday, a landslide killed at least four persons – Maricel Bulan, 30, and her children Carlo Jr., 6; Carla, 4; and Mary, 2 – who were buried beneath mud and boulders in Barangay (village) Guinsorongan.

Seven other houses were destroyed in the landslide that struck past 3 a.m. and that followed days of heavy rains.

Nida Aroza, Catbalogan social welfare officer, said at least five families remain in the area. “The city government has already asked them to leave, but for some reason, they refused,” she said.

She said that while the city government wanted the area emptied of people, relocating residents “will really take some preparation.”