Landslide-hit areas in Tubungan declared ‘danger zone’
Three barangays in the town of Tubungan, Iloilo will be declared a permanent danger zone after last week’s massive landslide which caused the displacement of more than 2,000 residents.
Tubungan Mayor Victor Tabaquirao, in an interview with Bombo Radyo Iloilo, said the municipal government will declare barangays Igtuble, Molina and Igpaho as permanent danger zones following an assessment made by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
Massive evacuation was effected in the three barangays following the massive landslide and mudflows in the evening of August 8, Saturday.
Located 42 kilometers south of Iloilo City, the incident stands as the worst to hit this quiet town of mostly rolling hills and mountains with very limited plains.
Tabaquirao said many of the residents have yet to return to their places and are still staying at the town’s municipal gymnasium. The gymnasium was converted into an evacuation center to accommodate the displaced residents.
Tabaquirao said some residents go back to the area during the day to check on their houses as well as crops and animals but return to the evacuation center in the evening.
It was learned that several houses were also destroyed by the landslide and covered with thick mud.
Meanwhile, the local government is looking for an area that will be used as relocation site of those families who could no longer go back to their houses.
It was learned that Vice President Noli De Castro and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Esperanza Cabral will be visiting Tubungan town on Wednesday to see for themselves the damage caused by the landslide and to give aid to the affected families.
The town of Tubungan was already placed under a state of calamity because of the massive landslide.
Barangay Igtuble has an estimated 1,200 population based on the latest census and some 11 kilometers from the Poblacion or town proper. Mayor Tabaquirao said this barangay is the worst hit with 150 to 200 hectares covered by the landslide.
The extent of the damage totally destroyed at least 40 houses, undetermined area of crops and scores of livestocks.
To note, path of the mudflow was from the boundary barangays of Igpaho and Igtuble going towards Barangay Molina. Barangay Bantayanan was the immediate choice for relocation and temporary haven of the affected locals given its higher grounds.
Yet despite the enormity of the incident, Mayor Tabaquirao remained grateful that no lives were lost nor injuries sustained in the course of the evacuation.