CLEARING operations are conducted to remove boulders blocking a road in Balamban town, Cebu province. (Vice Mayor Alfie Binghay FB)
CEBU CITY – It has been almost a week since typhoon “Tino” battered Cebu province but several barangays in a mountainous town remain isolated.
Balamban Mayor Amos Edwin Cabahug lamented that sending relief aid to six barangays has been a challenge as roads leading to the affected areas are blocked by boulders.
“You have to walk to reach the mountainous barangays and bring supplies. It’s very pitiful on the part of those trapped because of the landslide,” Cabahug said in Cebuano in an interview with reporters.
Cabahug said landslides on the Transcentral Highway (TCH) cut off access, completely isolating six barangays.
Access may not improve anytime soon. “As reported, it will take two to three weeks to clear, and we still have to check the roads if they are safe and stable,” Cabahug said.
Balamban was one of the hardest-hit areas when Tino whipped Metro Cebu last Nov. 4.
Cabahug said 11 residents died and 14 remain missing.
Search and retrieval operations in various areas are continuing as 14 individuals remain missing.
“Hopefully, the roads will soon be passable so we can bring supplies to the mountain barangays,” Cabahug added.
Cabahug has requested helicopter assistance from Provincial Administrator Ace Durano to provide essentials such as rice and drinking water to areas unreachable by land.
Isolated barangays were Buanoy Bridge, Cansomoroy, Hingatmonan, Lamesa, Liki, Luca, Sunog, Ginantilan, Bayong, and Cabasiangan.
These barangays had no casualties but the difficulty in sending assistance to the areas may worsen the situation, Cabahug said.
He appealed for help so that more relief aid will be sent to these areas.
“For those who have the heart to send help, please just bring them to the municipal hall,” he said.
Potable water, canned goods, clothing, and temporary shelters are the urgent needs of the affected barangays.