Due to soil erosion: 8 houses in Budlaan at risk of collapsing

CEBU, Philippines - At least eight houses in Sitio Lower Tac-an in Barangay Budlaan, Cebu City are at risk of collapsing due to soil erosion brought about by the past weeks' rains.

Yesterday, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella inspected the housing site of the National Housing Authority-7 in Budlaan and witnessed the risk families located at the river cliff are facing.

"This is more of an emergency situation. Kay dili man mahimo nga reactive lang 'ta. Let us be proactive. Dili 'ta mag-huwat nga mangahulog tanan balay," Labella told reporters.

He said he received a letter request from Budlaan barangay captain Nerissa Antolijao last Tuesday asking for assistance on the "grave concern" involving her constituents.

Over a hundred of families are living in the area, where at least 62 houses from NHA stand.

Labella said the families, who were from Upper and Lo-wer Carreta, were relocated in the area three years ago.

He said he will ask one city councilor to draft a resolution preparing a program of works and estimates to construct a riprap in the area or to armor the structure against soil erosion.

Labella said he will also ask the city's Department and Engineering and Public Works and the Cebu City Risk Reduction Management Council to inspect the area.

Antolijao, in her September 27 letter to Labella, said the situation of the relocation site for the displaced residents from Barangay Carreta has turned "dire."

She said it needs urgent response from the city government.

"Due to the strong stream of water from the river situated near the site, the soil from the banks of the river has been continuously eroded. Moreover, this erosion at the riverbanks is aggravated by the strong torrential rains that the city is experiencing lately," she said.

The barangay captain said the water has started to encroach on the houses of the residents, posing risk to the lives and properties of the residents because of the continuous soil erosion.

She said she had reported the matter to CCDRRMC but there was no response yet.

Joel Espinosa, 52, owner of one of the eight houses, said they are anxious everytime it rains.

"Upat mi kabuok nagpuyo sa balay. Bag-o lang namatay akong asawa sa kakuyaw diri. Giatake pag-Enero. Among gikagul-an nga kada uwan labi na gabii, dili mi katarong og tog kay simbako og mahog ug malus-ag nuon, maapil mi," he said.

He said there was at least two to three meters space at the back of his house when they occupied it three years ago.

"Nahibong lang 'mi nga kadauwan, mohulpa pud ang yuta hangtod nga likod na gyud mismo sa among balay naabot ang yuta," he said. (FREEMAN)