Road closure remains along Malabog-Paquibato Road after landslide-CDRRMO

The Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) said the closure of the road along Purok 76, Mangal-al, Barangay Malabog, Paquibato District remains after a landslide took place in the area last January 22, 2023, Sunday.

CDRRMO Head Alfredo Baloran, in an interview over the Davao City Disaster Radio on Wednesday, said that the landslide or mass movement partially damaged four houses. The ground displacement also caused the road to be not passable for any type of vehicle.

“Ang kalsada is gi-recommend nato for temporary road closure kay delikado man. During the assessment kadtong niaging adlaw nagalihok pa siya, nagahugno siya. DPWH advised nga ipasirado gyud ang maong kalsada. Lisud muagi ang motor kay ang kalsada nihugmak ba, naay portion nga dili gyud maagian, mga 6ft ang gibagsakan (We recommended the temporary road closure because it poses danger. During the assessment the other day, it is still moving, and the soil is collapsing. DPWH advised for the said road to be closed. It is even difficult for a motor vehicle to pass the area because there is a portion which is not passable, around 6 ft of ground slid),” Baloran said.

He said that continuous rain is the most probable cause of the landslide.

“Dugay naman gud na siya naay guba na crack na gyud na siya so na-aggravate lang na sa continuous, nga sigeg ulan kadtong niaging semana mao to nahumok iyang foundation (A crack has already been identified and it aggravated due to the continuous rains last week that weakened its foundation),” Baloran said.

He said that more intermittent rains are to be expected in Davao City this week because of the Low Pressure Area (LPA).

As of 6 am on January 25, 2023, DOST-PAGASA issued the general flood advisory no. 8 stating that as of 3 am, the Low Pressure Area was estimated based on all available data at 575 km East of Davao City (6.5°N, 130.8°E). The advisory includes the forecast of 12-hr rainfall which can be light to moderate and accompanied by thunderstorms. Davao City rivers and their tributaries are likely to be affected, particularly Davao, Talomo, Lipadas, and Lasang.

People living near mountain slopes and in the low-lying areas of the above-mentioned river systems and the Local Risk Reduction and Management Councils concerned are advised to be on alert for possible flash floods and landslides.

Baloran said that Dabawenyos should always prepare and stay on alert in case a pre-emptive evacuation is declared. Updates can be found on https://www.facebook.com/DavaoDRRMO, Davao City Disaster Radio Facebook Page, or tune in to DXQQ (87.5 FM).

As to the suspension of classes, Baloran said that the city did not declare such as there is no PAGASA advisory supporting the suspension.

“Wala pata’y gipakanaog, ang nabalitaan nato ang neighboring provinces sa Davao de Oro kay didto man gyud, duol didto ang weather disturbance, ang low pressure area (We have not issued any advisory yet, from what we heard from neighboring provinces [they declared] because the weather disturbance – the low pressure area is near them),” Baloran said. CIO