2 landslide-hit sitios declared danger zones: Evacuation ordered

CEBU, Philippines —  Two sitios in Cebu City have been declared danger zones following landslides over the weekend.

With this declaration, the areas are now off-limits.

The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Mitigation and Management Council (CDRRMC) specified a 2.5-hectare radius at Sitio Garaje in Busay and a wider 5-hectare radius at Sitio Gilagila in Bonbon, both as danger zones, the City’s Public Information Office relayed to The Freeman.

“This means evacuation is a must,” said CDRRMC chair Atty. Gerardo Carillo.

The council mandated the CDRRM Office to implement the declaration it made during a meeting with Mayor Michael Rama yesterday.

It extended the instruction to the Barangay Disaster Brigade of Busay and Bonbon and the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) through the precincts nearest to these places.

The Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) has also been instructed to take care of the immediate needs of residents who have no place to transfer to, especially if the danger zones will be made permanent.

At noontime yesterday, the disaster and traffic group declared the road in Sitio Garahe as “unpassable” to trucks and other heavy vehicles.

One lane had been closed to erosion in the area. Only light vehicles are allowed to pass through the area.

This is in anticipation of another soil erosion there, especially since there were still earth movements felt.

The closure of one lane of the road is the city government's precautionary measure for everyone’s safety.

“Kahinumdoman adunay pagdahili sa yuta sa maong dapit nga nakaguba sa kabalayan og hangtud karon padayon ang paglihok sa yuta nga maingon unya sa disgrasya,” part of the Cebu City Transportation Office advisory read and reshared by the CCDRMO.

Earlier, the CCDRRMO also advised the residents living in the area not to return to their homes anymore, not only for those structures that are not totally damaged but also those with cracks.

A no-build zone has also been recommended based on initial Rapid Disaster Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA).

Prepare for 'Queenie'

Also, CCDRRMO advised all residents in all flood-prone and landslide-prone areas to evacuate ahead due to tropical storm Queenie.

Queenie already entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility at 5 a.m. yesterday and was last spotted at 815 kilometers (km) east of Northeastern Mindanao as of 11 a.m. that day based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAG-ASA).

Though it was reported that the storm is "unlikely” to directly hit the country today, heavy rains are still projected over  Caraga, Eastern Visayas, and Bicol Region by tomorrow (Wednesday).

For Central Visayas, cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to trough of Tropical Storm Queenie are expected from November 2-4, 2022.

The CCDRRMO, however, does not want to be complacent as it did a pre-disaster risk assessment for TS Queenie already yesterday.

Office of the Civil Defense Director Marlou Salazar presided over the meeting yesterday while  Mark Gales, a representative from PAGASA, updated the body on the weather forecast.

“CCDRRMO strongly reminds residents of landslide and flood-prone areas to immediately evacuate to their nearest evacuation centers when storm signals are announced," they said.

Along with this, residents are expected to prepare at least three days worth of food, supplies and clothing even as the city government is also offering some food assistance to them.

For any emergencies or inquiries, the public may reach Cebu City Command Center emergency hotlines at: 0932 537 7770, 0947 178 0000, or 0917 839 9896.

To recall, preventive action by disaster frontliners three days ahead of typhoon Paeng prevented any casualties in the city.

Busay barangay captain Ma. Christia “Ebing” Famador and her barangay responders already noted unusual earth surface movements during incessant rains that severe tropical storm (STS) Paeng brought to Cebu.

Residents along the hillside were thus advised to evacuate as a preventive measure, according to Harold Alcontin, acting head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO).

“There were no casualties nor injuries when the landslide happened,” Alcontin said via the City’s PIO.  He added that Famador and her relatives and neighbors owned the 11 houses that were destroyed, affecting 15 families.

CCDRRMO quick response team (QRT) frontliners secured the area and immediate environs with barangay-based responders and barangay police security officers (BPSO), Alcontin disclosed.

Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) personnel also distributed five kilos of rice, some canned goods, packed meals, and water to the affected families.

DENR Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has also conducted an assessment in Sitio Garahe, but their findings are not yet available as of press time.

Aside from Busay, other barangays which had minor landslides include Sirao, Agsungot, Pung-ol Sibugay, Kalunasan, among others. – JMD (FREEMAN)