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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider Search ops for couple buried in landslide enters fourth day

Search ops for couple buried in landslide enters fourth day

Published Oct 22, 2025 02:22 pm
DAVAO CITY – Authorities are on the fourth day of search and retrieval operations for the couple who went missing after a section of the Bukidnon-Davao highway collapsed due to a landslide on Saturday, Oct. 18.
The landslide in Sitio Kipoloto, Barangay Palapacao, Quezon town, Bukidnon province, cut the vital link between this city and Bukidnon.
As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, responders are still searching for couple Ely and Thelma Ubatay, both 60-year-old vegetable vendors.
They are believed to have been swept down the ravine when their three-wheeled motorcycle known ‘’bao-bao’’ was caught in the landslide.
Forts Cabarde, information officer of the town, said an area where the couple may ended up has been identified.
“The spot was consistently identified by K9 dogs. Our responders have noticed foul smell in the area,” Cabarde said.
He said the area is located about 90 to 100 meters from the crown of the landslide, the edge of the national highway.
A report from the local government showed that the landslide measured about 400-meters long from crown to toe.
About 400 responders are now taking turns in search and retrieval operations.
Cabarde said that it is the first time that a landslide occurred in the four-kilometer winding section of the national highway.
He noted that there were small fissures in the past since the landslide site was used to be a natural way according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
“The collapsed section was just a backfill, according to the information we received,” he added.
On Tuesday, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon inspected and directed his personnel to study options for detour within the area.
Cabarde said that the DPWH may take two to five months to reconnect the cut off portions, including soil testing.
He said soil testing will be conducted as soon as possible.
Town Mayor Pablo “Poling” Lorenzo III said that the road closure will have an economic impact in the municipality.
Cabarde echoed Lorenzo’s statement. “It would be costly now for local farmers and traders to transport the commodities due to road closure.”
“Based on our computations, it would be an additional 19 percent on the transport cost given the distance of the alternative routes,” he said of the option that would also consume additional travel time.
The Bukidnon-Davao Road serves as a vital transport link for motorists and movement of essential goods between Northern Mindanao and Davao regions.
Authorities have advised an alternate for light vehicles – the highway from Valencia City to Tagum City in Davao del Norte passing through the towns of San Fernando in Bukidnon and Kapalong and Talaingod towns in Davao del Norte and Tagum to this city.
Heavy trucks from Bukidnon were advised to take the highway going to Kabacan town in Cotabato province and on to Davao City.
“If via Carmen-Kabacan, that’s an additional three hours,” Cabarde said.
Commuters will get off from the bus in a designated area before the landslide area and hike through a dirt trail to transfer to the other side of the road.
The local government has designated a waiting area for buses and other public utility vehicles (PUVs) on both sides of the landslide area. “It will be about an additional one hour in their travel time,” Cabarde said.

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Landslide Davao-Bukidnon Road
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