MGB recommends: Vacate site of landslide in Barangay Busay

CEBU, Philippines — Following the most recent incidents of landslide in uphill Barangay Busay, Cebu City, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Central Visayas (MGB-7) has recommended to the owner of the building structure and mountain resort above the site to vacate the area.

MGB-7 Information Officer Marian Codilla showed the copy of the report to The FREEMAN yesterday.

The report also stated that geologists want an engineering mitigation measure to be in place at the site.

“The integrity of the remaining riprap (retaining wall) structures should be checked and rectified or redesigned as necessary,” part of the report read.

Last September 25, prolonged rainfall triggered a landslide that blocked a big portion of the main road in Sitio Garahe, Barangay Busay.

In another incident, a 41-year-old carpenter was killed in a landslide at Sitio GMA in Barangay Apas following a heavy downpour on October 7.

Codilla said their office has not yet conducted any investigation into this incident.

“But our geologist will check it as soon as they have arrived from their fieldwork,” she said.

Codilla pointed out that there are several areas in uphill barangays that are geologically hazardous.

“We encourage local government officials to comply the necessary recommendations for each site declared as hazardous to landslide, subsidence and flooding,” she said.

Moreover, residents in areas identified as landslide-prone were advised anew to take precautionary measures with more rain events expected to occur in the coming weeks.

“People living in low-lying areas and in mountain slopes must be warned of possible flood and landslides,” MGB-7 Regional Director Loreto Alburo said.

Local government units, especially the barangays, are advised to reactivate their disaster brigades and refer to the geohazard maps that were provided by MGB to forewarn the residents in areas who are most likely to be affected.

The 1:10,000 Geohazard Map identifies the areas susceptible or vulnerable to geological hazards.

The maps were distributed to the local government units as a reference for their local development planning and disaster resilience programs to mitigate the impact of these events.

MGB-7 noted that at least 22 barangays in Cebu City are prone to landslide.

The public is also advised to evacuate when there is ground movement and to report these types of incidents to the local disaster brigades. (FREEMAN)