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Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Landslides cut off Cebu barangay
By Rene H. Martel
CEBU CITY -- Pamutan, Cebu City was inaccessible for most of the day Monday after landslides blocked the roads leading to the mountain barangay.
Farm produce were delayed in reaching the market because one road was cleared only around 3:30 p.m. by a Department of Public Works and Highways 7 payloader sent there upon the request of City Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
Barangay Captain Nenita Bacus said constant rain caused loose soil to slide downhill from about 60 feet and cover the cemented road at around 6 a.m. Monday.
Though habal-habals (motorcycles-for-hire) could still pass, other vehicles, especially trucks laden with vegetables to be sold at the Carbon Public Market, could not pass until in the afternoon.
Pamutan can be reached by passing through Barangays Punta Princesa, Buhisan, and Toong.
Bacus said another road leading to her barangay was likewise made impassable since Saturday after a landslide caused soil and boulders to cover the road in Sitio Kalomboyan, Barangay Sapangdaku.
Earth-moving works needed to be done but by nightfall, the road was already passable, although boulders still needed to be moved away.
Sapangdaku Barangay Councilor Lorna Damalerio said incessant rain the past days caused soil to erode and block the Kalomboyan road.
"Sabado na nahitabo, nakahibalo mi Domingo. Daghang bato, dili maagi-an nag-kinahanglan gyud og heavy equipment (It happened last Saturday but we only learned about it last Sunday. There are a lot of boulders and we needed heavy equipment to move these)," she told Sun.Star Cebu shortly after noon Monday.
But Barangay Captain Henreo Labra and other officials brought shovels and rolled some boulders down the side of the road.
"Amo lang gitabangan pagligid ang mga bato uban para lang kaagi ang sakyanan. Wala pa man ang heavy equipment sa syudad (We just rolled some of the rocks so that the vehicles can pass)," he told Sun.Star Cebu in a telephone interview Monday night.
City Disaster Coordinating Council personnel already inspected the area and promised that the City Government will help.
Bacus said that when they learned of the landslide, they sought the help of Cabarrubias, who requested the DPWH 7 to provide heavy equipment.
The landslide in Pamutan happened in the same area where rocks and soil swamped the road and affected transportation in the barangay during the October 2007 elections. (Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (June 3, 2008 issue)
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