Illicit excavations partly blamed for landslides

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO
March L. Fianza

After all has settled in the aftermath of the recent calamities, except for those who still weep over lost lives and property, the finger-pointing on who is to be blamed continues.

However, all of these can only be substantiated by reopening records attesting to things that were done or actions that could have been implemented that could have prevented or minimized the effects of the catastrophes, in addition to actual inspections of the devastated areas.

In a presscon held last week and attended by no less than multi-awarded Forester Regidor “Doy” M. de Leon, the newly appointed Regional Executive Director of DENR-Cordillera, it was learned that spots hit by heavy landslides such as Sitio Little Kibungan in Barangay Puguis, La Trinidad has been assessed in a geological mapping and survey in 2007, where officials and residents were warned of the circumstances surrounding the condition of the area.

Despite the information, Little Kibungan that was previously dubbed “ Kibungan Village ” because most residents here originated from the town of Kibungan , Benguet, grew even more populated as houses mushroomed on the embankments of a natural gorge.

In the words of the DENR staff they said that LGUs should apply more intense engineering intervention in dangerous residential zones, build houses with sizes suitable to the soil condition or simply prevent big constructions.The geological survey was conducted in Baguio , Benguet, Mt. Province and in some other parts of the region in 2007.

But in a country where elections come in every three years, to whom will politicians pay attention to? Is it the advice of technical teams from knowledgeable engineers, or the counsel of their political campaign leaders? And people will not stop constructing houses especially when they know that their officials will not stop them.

The weather, aside from having multi natural values of creativeness, helpfulness and kindness to some sectors, it is violent and disastrous to others. Man can not do anything about that, although, he knows the consequences.

The LGUs concerned are “aware of the warning,” Geologist Apil said. What the agency can do now after the fair warnings have been defied and after hundreds of deaths and displaced families, is to identify safe relocation sites and suggest that the affected are evacuated immediately.

Accordingly, Mt. Province PENRO Manny Pogeyed said the agency has already made such recommendations to the concerned LGUs in Benguet and the Cordillera.

Tadian, Mt. Province was doubly drenched by the continuous and heavy downpour of typhoon Pepeng when it made an unusual turn and re-entered from the western side, Forester Pogeyed said, causing massive landslide on a mountain at East Kayan that killed more than 35 residents in an instant.

News reports had it that folks in Kayan had previous knowledge of an old crack or a natural fissure on the mountain that eroded during “Pepeng.” But this information was not enough to warn the residents of possible danger.

DENR Geologist Fay Apil confirmed that landslides easily occur in the Cordillera because of its geomorphic character which is mountainous aside from being weathered and fractured. Such is the case of the mountain in Tadian.

Apparently, after several evaluations of the consequences of bad typhoons, it appeared that in most cases, damages to properties and deaths became more unthinkable when man interfered or disturbed the natural physical appearance of his environment.

Better judgment of nature that is taught to us through our environment is implanted in us only after it has taken away things that are precious to us. Has man aggravated his own disaster and has he become his own destroyer?
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Talking about environmental destruction aggravated by man, I happened to pass by Shilan Barangay in Trinidad and accidently found out about the opposition of residents against the earth-moving activities of a proposed subdivision at Sitio Takian.

Businessman Sonny Bahod said the opposition against the alleged developer identified as Elmer Cambolo, a councilor in Bakun, was led by Shilan Chair Georgina Delmas.

According to Bahod, his property has already been damaged as earth-fill has reached his house lot situated beside the former poultry farm of a certain Benito G. Sy that is being developed into a subdivision.

Mayor Artemio Galwan has taken note of the residents’ plight and has posted a notice in a local paper that warned the public to avoid dealing with the former poultry farm’s developers.

The notice said that the developer has not acquired the necessary documents such as subdivision development plan, development permit, environmental compliance certificate, land conversion papers and subdivision approval from the municipality in order to proceed in developing the 3.5 hectare area.

My reliable source whose relatives and friends were duped into buying lots from the landowner said residential lots are being sold at P2,500.00 per square meter.

Allegedly, the property was acquired from Benito G. Sy for P1,100.00 per square meter, which means that the seller stands to gain a whopping P1,400.00 per square meter, no sweat.

Just imagine how much profit he will get if he is able to dispose all of the 35,000 square meters. If the selling continues without the legal means, the seller would become a millionaire many times over through fraud and deceit.

Bahod confirmed that those who already gave cash advances to Cambolo were shown a plain subdivision plan that identified the lots to be bought, but these were not supported by technical survey descriptions.

I was told that many of the unwitting lot buyers are residents and businessmen from Mt. Trail and that this was the second time that people from the same community are tricked into buying residential lots with the promise from the dealers that the subdivision would soon be provided with access roads.

The first time was when buyers bought undeveloped residential lots from Cambolo located near Governor Fongwan’s house at Puguis, with the promise to construct roads. After three years, those who bought from him have yet to construct their houses because of the absence of access roads.

“I do not mind if one disposes his lots but the manner by which this is done should be carried out properly where buyers will not feel cheated after giving away their hard-earned cash,” my informant said. – marchfianza777@yahoo.com