Council asks DEPW for retaining walls

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council is urging the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) to prepare and provide a Program of Work Estimate (POWE) for the construction of slope protection or retaining wall at the affected landslide area in Little Mandaue, Sitio Lower Busay, Barangay Busay.

Barangay Busay Councilor Kevin Sanchez has posted in social media last February 6 that there was a cave-in incident that happened in Little Mandaue, Sitio Lower Busay, which has caused damage to the road and has endangered the structures nearby.

“Ang landslide miigo sa kilid sa main highway going to TCH (Transcentral Highway) ug may posibilidad pa kining modahili hilabi na nga nagpadayon ang pag uwan,” read sanchez’s post.

Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo, the chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Infrastructure, has proposed a resolution to start the immediate installation of a slope protection.

In his resolution, Guardo said that the barangay had made an assessment, and said that the continued downpour of rain had caused the damage of the road, and may further impact the adjacent and neighboring structures.

“It is imperative for the city government to make the necessary mitigating measures to prevent further soil erosion that may cause and endanger the lives of our motorists and the people,” said Guardo.

The resolution added that it is the declared policy of the state to uphold the people’s right to safety of their lives and property likewise to promote the general welfare of the people at all times from any disaster and calamities.

Guardo said that this resolution is the first step in crafting a mitigating measure to solve the affected area in Little Mandaue, Barangay Busay, and to avoid any more damage especially to the structures nearby.

In 2017, there were incidents of landslide in Barangay Busay which was caused by prolonged rainfall that triggered a landslide that blocked a big portion of the main road at Sitio Garahe, Barangay Busay.

Local government units, especially the barangays, were advised to reactivate their disaster brigades and refer to the geo-hazard maps that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Central Visayas (MGB-7) has provided to forewarn the residents in areas who are most likely to get affected.

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

The council also asked the resort owners to put up sheet piles and construct a retaining wall around the property to avoid further soil erosion. (FREEMAN)