You’ll feel the earth move in Sitio Garaje in Busay
Structural engineer recommends soil stabilization measures in Sitio Garaje, Barangay Busay after detecting ground movement Engineer says continuous soil erosion might block the road to Mountain View Resort, Temple of Leah
In a sitio in Barangay Busay, Cebu City called Garaje, you need to double check where you park your vehicle. The way the earth in the area has been moving since last week, chances are you might return to find your vehicle had been moved.
Soil in Sitio Garaje is moving because the frequent heavy rains the past week have softened it. Garaje, which in English translates to garage, is in danger of becoming a mobile sitio.
Safety engineers see the need for the Cebu City Government to carry out ways to stabilize the earth, asap.
Sitio Garaje is strategic because it’s the portal to other mountain barangays and some of Cebu City’s current attractions such as the Mountain View Resort and Temple of Leah. One big landslide can block the highway, cutting off passage.
A team of structural engineers from the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), Office of the Building Official, Department of Public Works and Highways, and City Councilor Jerry Guardo, head of the City infrastructure committee inspected Busay yesterday.
Among the suggestions they came up after the inspection were to build a permanent retaining wall on the roadside, soil boring to check permeability, and soil nailing to correct unstable natural slopes.
For the safety of the public, a structural engineer of the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) recommended the implementation of soil stabilization measures in Sitio Garaje, Barangay Busay, Cebu City.
If another heavy rain will hit the city, Engr. Nilo Igot feared that the soil will continue to erode and might block the road going to the other mountain villages and Busay’s tourist destinations such as Mountain View Resort and Temple of Leah.
Personnel from the DEPW, the Office of the Building Official, the Department of Public Works and Highways and Coun- cilor Jerry Guardo, chairperson of the City Council’s committee on infrastructure, inspected the site yesterday.
In an interview, Igot said a permanent retaining wall should be built beside the road in Sitio Garaje to stop soil movement.
For the house uphill, which is owned by the Castillo family, Igot said soil boring should be conducted. It will test the soil if it can still support the structure and determine its permeability, among others.
He said soil nailing is needed, a construction technique used to remedy unstable natural slopes.
During the inspection, a por- tion of the house was already hanging by the cliff. Visible cracks were also seen in the house’s surface. The Castillos are the owners of the Mountain View Resort.
“For the meantime that these are not yet in place, we will put up blue sacks to cover the loose soil so rainwater cannot further penetrate the area,” Igot said.
Michael Aleman, manager of the resort, said their family have been staying in the house for 17 years.
When the landslide occurred last week, he said they immediately evacuated.
Aleman said their family hired surveyors and assessors to assess the situation in the area and is waiting for their recommendation.
As to the resort operations, Aleman admitted that their clients have lessened over the past few days. The resort accommodates an average of 100 clients daily.
Guardo, in a separate interview yesterday, said there is an urgent need to immediately address the situation in Sitio Garaje, considering the many motorists passing on the highway.
“The area is really high-risk and very critical,” he said.
Armando Amistad earlier surrendered to police, and was given a job by City Government, receiving P250 per day.