Relocated Gaas folk recount landslide fears

On seeing the soil cracks near her home in the mountain barangay of Gaas, Balamban town in Cebu last Tuesday, Gina Bastida decided to move her family to her sister’s house.

A later inspection of her house showed that it also sustained cracks and is nearing collapse.

“I am afraid because until now the ground is shaking and moving. I can even hear the ground crack,” Bastida said in Cebuano.
A visit by Cebu Daily News in the area showed that the roof of Bastida’s house was split into two and was leaning on its side. .

Tension cracks

“Maybe if we would have enough money then we could build another house. For now, all we can do is stay temporarily at the evacuation site,” she said.
The Gaas barangay council declared a state of calamity in their area following the evacuation of 60 families due to a landslide.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Central Visayas (MGB-7) also found several tension cracks in the area.
Barangay Gaas chairman William Genel said 259 persons were evacuated to the barangay hall, day care center and health center.

Based on their inspection the MGB-7 team recommended that a 10-hectare area be declared uninhabitable and that residents be relocated because of possible erosion as shown by the tension cracks around the area, including the Gaas Elementary School.

Disability
Al Emil Berador, part of the MGB-7 team recommended setting an early warning system.
He said barangay officials should also monitor and communicate with authorities concerning geo-hazard situations.

Among the evacuees were senior citizens Eugenia Cabalona, 64, and Filomena Cabalona, 54.
They are staying at Gaas National High School since last week with their eight-year-old granddaughter, who suffers from a disability.

“I am so afraid because I can already hear the soil behind our house that started to crack,” said Eugenia.

Boundary

She said she’s afraid to stay in the house because her husband Filomeno is outside working in the farm.

“My granddaughter and I are all alone in the house. I would find it difficult to move us out because I’m old,” Eugenia said. Genel said they distributed relief goods to the displaced residents.
Barangay Gaas straddles the boundaries of Cebu City, Toledo City and Balamban town and has more than 4,000 residents.

The evacuation started since Friday last week and classes were suspended until yesterday.