ILOILO City – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) began its assessment of landslide-prone areas in Western Visayas.
The pilot area for the assessment on Thursday was Barangay Igpajo, Tubungan, Iloilo.
Igpaho is an upland village some five kilometers from the town proper. The fastest way to get there is via motorcycle.
OCD regional director Jose Roberto Nuñez said they decided to conduct the first assessment in Barangay Igpaho because landslide could threaten around 155 families there.
The village experienced a mud landslide before, he added.
Aside from Barangay Igpaho, 38 out of Tubungan’s 48 barangays are within the medium- to high-risk scale for landslide.
“We look into what we can do in the meantime. I have already talked to their village officials for a continuous IEC (information and education campaign). We need to inform everyone,” Nuñez said, citing that one of the major problems is how to evacuate residents in case of a landslide.
Initially, he suggested for a road widening to allow emergency vehicles to have access to the area.
“One of the mitigating measures that should be considered is how to evacuate them in case of a landslide because they are situated at the center. There is no way to evacuate them, so we are doing some alternative,” he said.
Nuñez added that he will look into the proposal of the local government unit and find ways to look for funds.
While relocating the residents is an option, Nuñez said their livelihood should also be considered.
The residents are dependent on farming as their main source of income. (With a report from PNA/PN)
