DINALUPIHAN, Bataan — An interagency task force here has declared a portion of a subdivision located at the foot of a hill here as danger zone and off limits for occupancy until found safe against landslide and mudflow.
Mayor Maria Angela Garcia announced Saturday that the task force composed of representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways, the municipal and provincial governments, and the Mines and Geophysical Bureau made an inspection of Casa Bonita Homes in Barangay Pinulot after a landslide hit the area Thursday night.
Mud, stones, and other debris from the hill cascaded into six houses and adjoining streets of Casa Bonita Homes, alarming other residents of the place.
Garcia said some 30 people were directly affected by the landslide – they belong to the eight families from the six houses. Some are in the evacuation center and some are now staying with relatives.
The mayor said the construction of the subdivision on the hill was stopped and the task force is now studying what other actions to take.
She said what took place last Thursday (April 26) also happened on March 9 this year, which prompted the task force to inspect the place and come up with an initial recommendation.
“The recommendation is to make interceptor canal and retaining wall that were being built, but we were overtaken by events, plus the earth movement and strong rains that caused the strong and sudden flow of water with mud,” Garcia said.
The mayor called the residents to a meeting and promised that mitigating measures would be done before the advent of the rainy season.
Resident Minerva Gunido said they had been in Casa Bonita Homes for almost 10 years.
“This was the second time it happened this year. This must be the result of the subdivision being constructed along a hill,” she remarked. (Ernie Esconde/PNA)
