As a result of the 6.9 magnitude quake
VILLABA, Leyte– The local government here is preparing to relocate more than 194 families—or over 600 residents—from Barangay Tagbubunga to a safer site following the recommendation of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) after a recent rockslide incident triggered by aftershocks from the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Bogo City, Cebu last Sept. 30.
Mayor Rudy Veloso said the affected families live in a rockslide-prone area, posing serious risks not only during the rainy and typhoon seasons but also amid continuing aftershocks from the Cebu quake, which was felt across Leyte.
A rockslide was reported in Tagbubunga on October 3, prompting residents to flee their homes.
MGB personnel conducted an on-site inspection and advised the LGU to immediately evacuate the affected households.
Currently, most displaced families are staying in tents set up at the barangay covered court, while others have taken temporary shelter at the Tagbubunga Elementary School and with relatives.
Mayor Veloso said the municipal government is searching for at least two hectares of land within the same barangay for relocation to ensure that residents remain close to their farms and livelihood.
He added that the LGU will seek assistance from Leyte 3rd District Representative Anna Veloso-Tuazon for funding the construction of housing units.
“We are looking for a lot within the village and not far from their farms so they can continue tending to them even after relocation,” Mayor Veloso said.
However, some residents have expressed opposition to the plan, citing their long-term residence in the area and the investments they made in building their homes, which they claim are far from the most at-risk zones.
“We will consult with higher authorities—from the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the provincial government—because we already have an advisory to evacuate and relocate,” Veloso added.
Meanwhile, evacuee Marichu Ondinato said her family would no longer return to their home due to fear of another rockslide.
“Takot na kami, natrauma na kami. Maghahanap na lang kami kahit maliit na lugar na ligtas,” she said.
The disaster has also disrupted classes for more than 200 students of Tagbubunga Elementary School, where several classrooms are being used as temporary shelters. Teachers have shifted to modular learning, providing printed lessons for home study.
Grade 2 adviser Maria Corazon Demeterio, who also evacuated with her family, said the setup poses learning challenges, especially for younger students who need close supervision.
“Once we’ve secured our belongings, I plan to bring back my struggling readers for limited face-to-face sessions,” she said. “Learning is much more effective in person.”
At least 10 classrooms in the school have been declared unsafe due to structural damage from the earthquake and may be condemned pending inspection.
Following the combined impact of the earthquake and Typhoon Opong, upon the recommendation of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC), the town council has placed the entire town under a state of calamity on Tuesday, October 7.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
