Campo 5 in Talisay is ‘no habitation zone’

Mayor JVR appeals to residents to move out of harm’s way

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has declared the landslide-prone area of Campo 5 in barangay Manipis in Talisay City a “no habitation zone”.

Eddie Llamedo, information officer of the regional DENR office, said the declaration means the area is no longer fit for occupancy.

“Residents of  Campo 5  should not be complacent about staying there because the area is included in our earlier geohazard threat  advisory,” Llamedo said.

CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER. Anxiety is written all over the face of Jubita Pamor, 80 (right) as she and her family were among the residents told to leave their shanties located in a landslide-prone zone in barangay Manipis in Talisay City. (CDN PHOTO/ TONEE DESPOJO)

Political will
He said that with the declaration, Talisay City officials should exercise political will and relocate residents to safe ground.

“We have to respect the findings of the geologists to ensure the safety of the families,” he said.

Talisay City Mayor Johnny delos Reyes visited Campo 5 at it rained yesterday morning and appealed again to  residents to vacate the area.

They can stay at the  old Lagtan Public Market  as a  temporary relocation site.

City Hall also urged residents of Campo 4 and 6 to  move out as a precaution following a landslide that hit the area Thursday night.

At least 100 families from barangays Camp 4 and Manipis need to be evacuated soon.

Melitona Abadilla, 69 who lives in a shanty  in Camp 6, said she will heed the call, but worries that thieves would  ransack their houses.

“It’s fine for us to evacuate but what will happen to our things here? Are we going to leave all of these behind?” she told Cebu Daily News.

The mayor told  residents that City Hall was only concerned for their safety  during the rainy season.

Trucks are ready  to ferry residents and their belongings to the relocation site. The mayor also assured  that City Hall will provide food and supplies  at the evacuation center.

The mayor will meet with school heads and parent-teachers councils to discuss emergency measures during bad  weather.

“If it’s too risky then we can suspend the classes,” he said.

Barangay captain Emma Cabiluna said the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) warned that  students and teachers should immediately leave the school premises when it rains hard because it’s possible that boulders would roll down to the school.

Three classrooms in the Manipis Elementary School were damaged following a rockslide last June.

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