Mountain cracks, landslide threaten to bury alive Bontoc folks, 69 houses

By Alpine L. Killa

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Mountain “cracks” and landslides along the Digdig Fault here threaten to bury alive villagers and 69 houses, including a “dap-ay or ato” (sacred huts), newly constructed barangay hall and waiting shed at Barangay Gonogon.

Gov. Leonard G. Mayaen had ordered the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to inspect the site following report of Sally Cherwaken of the Provincial Planning and Development Office that Digdig Fault line traverses the village and is susceptible to rain-induced landslide.

Data presented by Cherwaken during a Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council meeting was downloaded from the website of Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

PDRRMO personnel led by PDRRM officer Anacleto B. Tangilag, Sally Cherwaken and Bontoc Councilor John Tay-og Peleo recently checked the site after Gonogon barangay captain Rudy Guitalao told them cracks could be seen above the national road.

Below the national road is Sitio Simbugan.

Gonogon folks said they feared they could be buried alive if the crack widens and the landslide continues. 

Guitalao said villagers constructed a drainage canal above all cracks to divert water flow and prevent erosion especially during  rainy season.

However, the slope above the national road eroded even without heavy rain.

Tangilag said the provincial government is now coordinating with Mines and Geosciences Bureau – Cordillera Administrative Region to conduct studies in the area to determine cause of cracks and landslides.

He said the MGB could recommend action to prevent loss of lives and properties if the cracks will widen and erode, burying the houses below the national road.

Five municipalities of this province are traversed by faultlines and epicenters with barangays susceptible to erosion as well as flood prone areas.

This was indicated by the geo-hazard map which bared most roads in the 10 towns of the province, except the eastern municipality of Paracelis, were susceptible to rain- induced landslides.