At least nine households or more than 50 persons in Camp 5, Barangay Manipis, Talisay City were asked to leave immediately their homes after two houses were hit by boulders in a landslide which happened two days ago.

There was no casualty reported when boulders rolled down on the two houses which are located in a cliff at the right side of the Manipis road.

This, as the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 found out that the said area continues to be unstable as there are signs that boulders and other loose materials may topple down following a landslide last August 28 past 6:00 in the morning.

“We urge the Talisay City government with the barangay captain to carry out the immediate relocation and evacuation of the nine households as they are in a very high risk place,” said MGB 7 Regional Director Loreto B. Alburo.

The boulders that moved down have a dimension of 0.5 meter by 0.5 meter.  The 50-meter road stretch became impassable as some eroded materials blocked the traffic.

The Department of Public Works and Highways with its contractor QM Builders cleared and hauled the soil materials.

“Intense and prolonged rain including the type of soil there which is mostly highly weathered and highly fractured could be a factor why landslides occur in Manipis road”, said DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo.

Alburo deployed MGB 7’s chief geologist Al Emil Berador and chief, mine safety and health section Romeo Patalinghug to conduct an ocular inspection last August 28 after a phone call from the Talisay City government.

Berador said there are some sections already indicated a movement and these cobble stones or boulders on higher slopes could be mobilized by strong ground shaking during an earthquake or after several days of heavy and prolonged rains.

Montejo said there are a lot of sections along the Manipis road which are highly prone to landslides or rock fall keeping in mind to exercise caution while travelling especially during heavy rains.

The MGB 7 issued a landslide threat advisory and received by the Office of Talisay City Mayor Johnny de los Reyes with five recommendations last August 28.  The recommendations are the following: implement the evacuation of nine households; observe and monitor the presence of mass movement and report to authorities; establish slope stabilization measures; put up some warning signs to caution the motorists on the hazards present; and cordon off the area.

In an interview with some residents in the area, there were three days of continuous rain.

“It is strongly notified to all communities particularly those who are situated near the foot of the mountain or in the cliff side, and other critical areas to be at all times careful and cautious as landslide occurs without warning,” Alburo added.

In a related development, about four households were recommended for evacuation in Barangay Camp 4 as there are tension cracks nearby those houses.  Camp 4 Barangay Captain received the landslides threat advisory last August 28 with four recommendations.