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Saturday, July 22, 2006
Water tanker falls off cliff
AT least 200 households in Barangay Busay, Cebu City may have to scrimp on water for the next few days after the tanker that delivers water to them daily fell on a roadside cliff yesterday.
Carrying 45 drums of water in its hold, the City-owned tanker reportedly lost its brakes and plunged 30 to 50 feet down the side of a narrow road leading to the National Housing Authority Busay Heights homes.
The driver and his helper were injured.
Driver Demetrio Cubar, 48, father-in-law of former city councilor George Rama, was rushed to Chong Hua Hospital after complaining of pains in the chest and back. Aside from bruises in the arms and legs, he also had a laceration in the head.
Injuries
Julius Mirafuente, in his 30s, just suffered bruises because he managed to jump out of the tanker seconds before it rolled down.
Since his injuries were slight, he was sent home after the responding Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation personnel treated him.
Barangay Captain Eliodoro "Yody" Sanchez said witnesses told him that the tanker tumbled thrice before the hold separated from the chassis.
Schedules
The tanker can no longer be used. That is why City Councilor Edwin Jagmoc said they have to change the schedules of the remaining three tankers used in the City's Tubig Project.
The City, through the Department of Public Services (DPS), provides water to residents in areas where little or no water is available, like Barangays Busay and Budlaan.
"We'll have to arrange so there will be water delivered in Busay," Jagmoc said, in a phone interview.
Jagmoc heads the council committee on public services. He said the City will take care of Cubar's medical expenses.
Sanchez said the tanker was going downhill around 1:10 p.m. when Cubar and Mirafuente heard something snap while they negotiated a curve of the road.
"Jimmy had no time to get off the tanker," he added, quoting Mirafuente.
Sanchez believes the brakes broke because of the tanker's heavy load.
The tanker was such a wreck Jagmoc ordered DPS personnel to just salvage what they can from its parts.
Cebu City Transport Commission head Rene Plarisan, who went to the site, also ordered that a crane be sent there to lift the engine and bring it to the motor pool.
The tanker was one of two that City Hall bought at P1 million each when the El Niño phenomenon dried up water wells and made access to water difficult for residents in mountain barangays. (RHM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 22, 2006 issue)
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