Personnel of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CCDRMC) clear the old balete tree that damaged two houses in barangay Kamagayan. (CDN PHOTO/ CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
Two houses in barangay Kamagayan, Cebu City, were damaged by an old balete tree that fell down due to strong winds yesterday.
“The strong habagat (northerly) winds and the rains last week softened the soil,” said Councilor Dave Tumulak, head of Cebu City’s Command Center. He said the 25-foot balete tree looked like a century old.
No one was hurt when the tree fell. “Everyone was outside already,” Tumulak said. The councilor said the rented houses of Mario and Theresa Español were damaged when the tree fell over their kitchen and living room.
A wall near the tree was also damaged. The Cebu City government will provide housing materials like galvanized iron sheets for roofing and plywood.
Tumulak said they will also be reassessing the damage to possibly augment the assistance.
The city’s disaster risk reduction management team removed the tree from the houses late afternoon yesterday.
The branches were chopped and turned over to the barangay.
Tumulak said he will report the incident to the regional Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) today.
“We’re going to trim or cut down several huge fruit trees near the area because they pose danger to the residents,” he said.