Two injured in Manipis rockslide

CEBU, Philippines - Two cousins were injured after they were hit by falling rocks Monday evening while traversing the Talisay-Uling access road in Barangay Manipis, Talisay City.

The victims were identified as Lyndon Seldas, 23, and Aldrin Bacus, 16, both residents of Toledo City. They were onboard a motorcycle and headed to Toledo from Barangay Tabunok in Talisay when rocks suddenly started falling on them in Manipis.

As a result, Seldas sustained scratches to both feet while Bacus was injured in the left knee. Both were brought to the Talisay City District Hospital and now in safe condition.

Manipis Barangay Captain Emie Cabiluna, however, said the rockslide had caused inconvenience to some motorists because of dirt and rocks that covered the street.

Alfredo Panonce, a village watchman who responded to the scene, said they provided an alternate route to motorists and pedestrians.

According to Cabiluna, it was not the first time a rockslide or landslide had hit Manipis.

Last Saturday, a landslide also occurred in the area because of heavy rains that loosened the soil. Fortunately, no one was harmed from the slide.

“Pero kining duha ron, sila gyud ang nataymingan sa pagdahili (But it just happened that these two got caught in Monday’s rockslide),” said Cabiluna.

She said that after the most recent incident, warning signs have been put up near the area while clearing activities continued until yesterday.

Manipis is among the Talisay barangays with high chances of experiencing movement of soil, along with Jaclupan, Camp 4, Maghaway, Lagtang, Candulawan and Camp 2, the city disaster office said.

Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas, for his part, said he intends to meet with the contractor of a road widening project in the area so they could come up with mitigating measures and a permanent solution to the frequent slides in Manipis.

The roadwork, which spans from Barangay Lagtang in Talisay to Toledo, is under the Department of Public Works and Highways and is undertaken by QM Builders.  (FREEMAN)