By Andrea Aro
Magsaysay, Davao del Sur Mayor Arthur Davin said he will not allow residents living in high land areas to rebuild their homes.
On Sunday afternoon, a magnitude-6.9 quake hit towns in Davao del Sur. Most affected were the towns of Magsaysay, Matanao, Bansalan and Hagonoy, and Digos City. (Photo Courtesy of Airylle Manginsawan / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Delikado sila sa landslides at yung bundok nila marami ng bitak bitak dahil sa apat na earthquake na dumaan sa aming bayan (It’s a landslide-prone area. The mountains have cracked due to the four earthquakes that hit our town),” Davin told CNN Philippines.
Davin said he already ordered forced evacuation for residents living in the upland areas after the first earthquake hit their town
“Nung nirevise namin yung comprehensive land-use plan, hindi namin sila pwede paalisin don kasi nga sabi na nila mula nung pinanganak (sila) diyan na sila nakatira,” he said. (When we revised the comprehensive land-use plan, we couldn't force them to go because they say that they’ve been living there since birth.)
According to Davin, they have already identified the relocation sites for the affected residents which were recommended by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
“We have already identified the relocation sites lalo na yung mga nasa danger zones na nakatira like yung in the Poblacion area, mga nakatira malapit sa rivers and creeks dapat ilikas na namin at least maiwasan na, if in case meron pang pag galaw nasa safe na sila na area based don sa recommendation nung relocation sites na approved naman ng ating mga agencies na pwede siya pag lagyan,” Davin said. (We have already identified the relocation sites, especially for those who lived in the danger zones, the Poblacion area, residents who lived near the rivers and creeks. They should be evacuated for their safety to prevent any possible danger based on the relocation sites recommended and approved by the agencies.”
David said that the recent quake was the most destructive compared to the previous quakes.
On Sunday afternoon, a magnitude-6.9 quake hit towns in Davao del Sur. Most affected were the towns of Magsaysay, Matanao, Bansalan and Hagonoy, and Digos City.