Kalinga landslide forces evacuation of 44 families

By Jessica Jane Barriento

PASIL, Kalinga -- More than a week after Typhoon Rosita ravaged Northern Luzon, residents here in Sitio Yogyog, Barangay Pugong were hit by landslide.

A Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council report said as of press time, 44 families were evacuated.

Municipal Mayor Alfredo B. Malannag Jr. led the forced evacuation for those who resisted in leaving their house on morning and night of Monday. 

Together with the help of Philippine National Police, they were able to evacuate the residents from the declared danger zone.

Twenty five meters from the landslide area was declared danger zone. It was cordoned by police.

A command center was activated in the barangay including an emergency operations center of the MDRRMC.

Disaster officials and personnel including those from the Office of Civil Defense visited the area.

A geologist from Mines and Geosciences Bureau, engineers from Dept. of Public Works and Hi-Ways Upper Kalinga District Engineering Office, and a representative from the Dept. of Interior and Local Government Provincial Office.

The municipal mayor as the chairperson of the MDRRMC identified needs of the residents especially that the water system was destroyed along the sinking mountain.

MGB’s Jestee Dona-al said they inspected the area Nov. 6, saying hey recommended evacuation while the landslide is in progression. She stressed that it is unpredictable when the remaining part of the mountain will sink.

At present the landslide has a depth of about 25 meters from the level of the ground where houses were built.

Thirteen houses were voluntary dismantled by the owners to salvage the materials that still can be used. Others are still being demolished. Relief operation was conducted for the affected families.

Meanwhile, the municipal government is looking for a safe place as a possible relocation site for the affected residents in coordination with MGB and OCD.