PDRRMO to make diversion road for upland access
Following last week's landslide, the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have been given two days to make a diversion road in Barangay Lower Becerril, Boljoon as access road to upland barangays.
Raphael Luche, head of PDRRMO's emergency response management team, said the diversion road is set to be about 100-meter long to be created in two privatelyowned lots. Negotiations with the owners are still ongoing.
“Since we are given two days, this (diversion road) is temporary and the shortest route nga pwede nato ma-connect to the four barangays,” said Luche.
He added that Presidential Assistant for Central Visayas Michael Loyd Dino has assured that his office will help in making the diversion road.
“According to him (Dino), at all cost the road must be open para ma access ang four barangays,” said Luche.
He added that if there's a need to cut trees along the diversion road, the municipality of Boljoon will be the one to process permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Luche said that the DPWH equipment for making the diversion road arrived Monday night, and that the PDRRMO has also delivered diesel for the equipment yesterday.
The DPWH and the 53rd Engineering Brigade of the Philippine Army will work on the diversion road once negotiations with the owners have concluded.
Luche also said the PDRRMO is focusing on the creation of an access road for the upland barangays, stabilizing and monitoring the water level of the artificial dams created by the landslide in Barangay Lower Becerril, and establishing a relocation site for at least 38 families affected by the landslide.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is set to visit the residents displaced from their homes to check on their condition and whether they are given full support by the government physically, emotionally, and financially.
“Kami muadto mi siguro karong Huwebes ug atoang tan-awon ang area, atoang tan-awon ang lugar and we will check sa kahimtang sa mga tao didto kung gitagaan ba sila og assistance sa gobyerno didto. It is the government's responsibility to protect the people and assist the displaced families so hopefully they can return to their normal lives,” said Leo R. Villarino, CHR Special Investigator IV.
Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. has said that residents, particularly those living near the river, have been instructed to evacuate from the affected area.
However, Tribunalo said that they are advising residents to stay with close family and relatives rather than going to an evacuation center as this is a much better option than crowding families in a limited space.
Villarino said that even if affected residents are not in evacuation centers the government should still provide them aid.
“The government has a full responsibility to them. They should look into their plea and should step in aron dayon silang mabalik. Mao na atoang tan-awon kung mubisita ta,” he said.