THE Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) has reiterated its advisory against visiting the so-called “Mini Asik-Asik” Falls in Purok 9, Barangay Carmen in Calinan due to the risk of impending landslides.
The CDRRMO has already restricted access to the waterfall and its vicinity due to the extreme and often sudden change in water movement of the Talomo River as well as the very high probability of a landslide due to soil erosion and loose rocks in the surrounding area.
“Asik-Asik Falls was assessed by our assessment team last February 23 pa tong 2022. Tungod kay naa man gud mga report didto na naay mga nagaligo didto nga very hazardous na lugar (This is because of the reports of people swimming there where it is very hazardous),” said CDRRMO head Alfredo Baloran in an interview with the City Information Office on Thursday.
Despite prohibiting access to the area, as well as placing several warning signs to discourage people from visiting the site, people still visit Asik Asik Falls for leisure, said Baloran.
However, on January 15, the Office received reports of mass wasting in the area, signalling an impending landslide. The CDRRMO immediately reiterated its warnings and coordinated with local functionaries to completely restrict access to Asik-Asik and its vicinity.
“Naa nay mga indicators, naa nay mga punuan sa kahoy nga nangahulog so delikado gyud. That’s why gi-call namo ang barangay council sa Barangay Tamayong and Barangay Carmen na tabangan ang atong opisina to restrain any individuals na mag-adto didto (There are indicators already, there are already trees that had fallen so it is very dangerous. That is why we called the barangay councils of Tamayong and Carmen to help our office prevent any individuals from going there),” Baloran said.
Baloran also said the CDRRMO also called on the assistance of the security cluster to provide patrols to ensure that people will no longer be able to sneak in, citing a rescue operation the CDRRMO conducted last year to save nine visitors trapped in the falls’ vicinity as water level in the Talomo River suddenly rose.
Although no report of injuries or deaths has been recorded in the Mini Asik-Asik to date, Baloran said that the ongoing wet climate, which is expected to continue until March, will trigger erosions in ravines and foothills in the area, making a landslide incident even more probable.
The CDRRMO chief urged everyone to heed the office’s warnings.
He said for everyone’s safety, “especially kadtong mga mahilig sa mag-picture or magligo-ligo, palihug lang ayaw lang sa Asik-Asik Falls kay delikado and naay impending hazards. To avoid accidents, ayaw na lang gyud mo og adto (especially those who want to take pictures or go swimming there, please don’t do it in Asik-Asik Falls because it is dangerous and there are impending hazards. To avoid accidents, do not go at all).” (CIO)