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Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Davao folks stay in danger zones despite warning
DAVAO CITY -- Hundreds of residents of Barangay Mamali in Mati City, Davao Oriental are not keen on leaving their homes amid government warnings on landslides.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) earlier warned that Barangay Mamali sits on a very dangerous ground being located at the foot of the Philippine fault, and residents are advised to evacuate to a safer place.
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It was learned that few decades ago, a landslide covered an entire elementary school building in the same village. Residents quickly left the area before the earth fully covered the school and some of the houses nearby.
According to 84-four-year-old Marcusa Garay, a resident of the barangay, their house was also damaged by the landslide, adding that the site is now the barangay's main road and the poblacion is located just a few meters away from the affected area.
Although proven as a landslide prone site, some residents like Misabeth Capin, 43, are still not keen on leaving their homes and lands, saying landslides are a common occurrence in their barangay especially during the rainy season.
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She said they have no plans of evacuating since their land and livelihood are in Mamali.
"Asa man pud mi mamalhin? Nga naa man dinhi among yuta ug panginabuhian (We don't know where to transfer as our land and livelihood are here)," said Capin.
Another resident identified as Lola Marcusa said she has been in Mamali since 1948. She stressed that Mamali is the place where she wants to die along with her husband.
The MGB, in its study, found several danger signs in the area such as ground cracks, tilted trees, fractured rocks, bulging at the lowermost portions of the slopes, water ponding, constant movement of soil and rocks, and presence of clay. It said the area is in great danger of being affected by a strong tremor being located near a fault line.
MGB Southern Mindanao chief geologist Dindin Velasco said in an interview that Purok Tagdodo in Mamali have slopes that are active and unstable, while the area below the location of the Mamali road is actually situated above the Philippine fault.
In a report submitted by the MGB Southern Mindanao to the Mati local government unit (LGU), it identified the barangays of Mayo, Tagabakid, Danao, Dawan and Macambol as areas that are "very high susceptibility to landslides."
Areas where the Philippine fault passes or where a splay of the fault passes were identified to be in Mati Central, Barangay Sainz, Sanghay, Libudon, Danao, Dawan, Mamali, and Macambol.
The City Government of Mati meantime called on the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) to look into the MGB report, which to them is "highly technical."
Mati city hall executive assistant Richard Villacorte said the MGB report needs to be verified and counterchecked by the NDCC. He said if verified, the NDCC should now draft a plan on what to do and how to do it.
Villacorte said the City Government of Mati is willing to follow whatever suggestions will be made by the NDCC. (BOT/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (May 28, 2008 issue)
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