Iloilo City – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region 6 (MGB-6), DENR, investigates the landslide that caused the road in Barangay Teniente Benito in Tubungan going to Leon, Iloilo to collapse due to heavy rains early this month .
Officer-in-Charge, Office of the Regional Director Raul A. Laput dispatched a team on August 13, 20202 to investigate the landslide.
Geologist Shimpei A. Francisco said that the landslide damaged around 10-meters of the road going to Leon from Tubungan. He estimated the slope distance of the slide from the top area to be 20-30 meters.
There was also a creek on the northern side of the landslide area that also contributes to the erosion and scouring of the soil, Mr. Francisco said. While he learned of the municipality’s plan to construct slope protection along the sides of the road, he recommended for its temporary closure until mitigation measures are in place to avoid risk.
“There is always the danger for the landslide to occur in the same area when triggered by rain because of the steep slope and loose soil,” Francisco said. The area is automatically elevated as “very high” in terms of landslide susceptibility in the geohazard map, he added.
During the landslide assessment, Mr. Francisco also found the back portion of the area where the municipality health center is located to be vulnerable to landslides. He advised the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office to vacate the health center when heavy rains occur.
MGB-6 once again reminds the public and the local government units to refer to the Geohazard Maps showing areas susceptible to flood and landslides especially when heavy rainfall occurs. Roads and bridges in areas prone to landslide and flood hazards should be closed depending on the actual conditions on the ground. (MGB-6)