Construction in 30 mountain barangays in Cebu City banned due to landslide threat
CEBU CITY – This city has banned construction in 30 mountain barangays due to threat of landslides.
Mayor Michael Rama here issued Executive Order No. 13 dubbed “Oplan: Likay (avoid) sa Landslide” on Thursday, Nov. 3, to establish a mechanism, preparedness, response, rehabilitation, and management of landslide incidents and landslide-prone areas.
Prohibiting the building of structures in the 30 mountain barangays was part of the recommendation made by experts from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Central Visayas (MGB 7) and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).
The 30 barangays are highly susceptible to landslide, according to the MGB and CDRRMO.
Among the 30 barangays are Agsungot, Babag, Banilad, Binaliw, Bonbon, Budlaan, Busay, Guba, Malubog, Mabini, and Pungol Sibugay.
CDRRMO chief Harold Alcontin said the 30 areas have come up with contingency plans which include zoning that will identify parts of the barangays prone to landslides.
Rama signed the EO in a meeting with city officials.
"The philosophy here is that it is better to be on the side of caution than to be sorry," Rama said in the meeting.
Landslide had struck some areas in this city due to incessant rains from by severe tropical storm ‘’Paeng’’ in the past days.
At the Transcentral Highway, constant soil movement has been detected, causing the closure of a portion of the road.
Last Oct. 29, six houses were destroyed when landslide struck Busay. No one was hurt as occupants had been ordered to evacuate due to a landslide that happened nearby.