CDRRM asked to conduct “more intensive assessment” in Budlaan

CEBU, Philippines - After conducting inspection, Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella requested the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to conduct “more intensive assessment” at the relocation site in Barangay Budlaan where eight houses are in danger of collapsing.

Labella inspected the housing site of the National Housing Authority-7 last Wednesday and witnessed the “grave risk” residents in the area are exposed to because of the soil erosion.

“More so, the undersigned humbly requests that your office provide the necessary plans to minimize the hazard posed by the erosion on the riverbanks and reduce the vulnerability of these residents from such risk,” read Labella’s letter to CCDRRMC head Nagiel Bañacia dated Sept. 29.

Labella said he is acting on a letter request from Budlaan barangay captain Nerissa Antolijao last Tuesday asking for assistance on the “grave concern” involving her constituents.

“As per information relayed by the residents, eight of the houses are exposed to grave risk of life and limb as the subjacent support on the land in which these houses were built are slowly eroded by the river current,” Labella said.

He said he will support all measures that are appropriate in responding to the urgent concern of the residents.

Labella asked CCD-RRMC to provide the necessary plans to minimize the hazard posed by the eroded riverbanks where houses are located.

In a separate interview, Bañacia said the disaster team has received the letter request of Antolijao a month ago and was referred to the city’s Department of Engineering and Public Works to put riprap along the riverbank to prevent the erosion.

Bañacia said the DEPW will do the project as early as possible to address the concern of the residents.

“Duna na’y recommendation atong city engineer nga i-include siya kuno as a component sa road network. Dunay gahimo og dalan and apilon lang ang riprapping. So, it’s a matter of time nga mahimo na ‘to og riprap,” he said.

In the meantime, he said residents don’t have to evacuate the area yet since an engineering measure will be applied to address the matter.

As of now, there are over a hundred families living in the area where at least 62 houses from NHA-7 are situated.

The families are relocatees from sitios Upper and Lower Carreta in Barangay Carreta three years ago. (FREEMAN)