DENR Region 2 to investigate alleged Sierra Madre landslide in Isabela
CAGAYAN -- Regional Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 2 has ordered an investigation of a landslide in the Sierra Madre Isabela part.

The order came as photos of the alleged landslide posted on social media captured the attention of netizens.
Bambalan said the agency and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau or MGB have already formed an investigating team that will go to San Agustin in Isabela to investigate the real cause of the landslide.
Initial information gathered by Bambalan revealed that a crater at the top of the mountain could have been the cause of the landslide triggered by heavy rains.

The DENR had also sought the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Isabela for an aerial survey to determine if indeed there is a crater on top of the mountain.
“Maging ang tulong ng mga katutubong agta para samahan ang investigating team dahil masukal umano ang lugar,” a report from the Cagayan Provincial Information Office said.
Authorities are eager to know the exact location of the landslide to assess the incident.
A netizen posted on his Facebook account photos of landslide with caption ‘Mahal naming Sierra Madre, bakit may sugat ka, sana'y huwag lumala ang sugat mo. Sanay mapansin natin ito.’
The post went viral in social media with 17,000 reactions when shared by Philippine Weather System/Pacific Storm Update.
Ervin Suguitan, employee of LGU San Agustin, Isabela and a freelance photographer of San Agustin Isabela took the photos on May 28 and posted them on his FB account on May 29.
“Naisipan ko lang na ipost noon kasi nababahala ako kasi noong nagpakita yan, naging chocolate ang Cagayan river sa amin,” he told the Manila Bulletin.