The section of the Eco-Translink Highway at Upper Caticlan, Barangay Rizal in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, that was hit by landslides on Thursday and Friday, January 12 and 13, has been cleared of debris but commuters are cautioned against travelling through the area at night and during low visibility.
It is still an active landslide area so there is a need to observe “care and caution” because there are still boulders and mud rocks that could fall, Joe Recalex Alingasa Jr., head of the San Carlos City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, said Sunday, January 15.
“We are closely monitoring the area as rain or any movement of the ground could trigger a landslide,” he said.
That is why commuters are cautioned against travelling through the area at night or when there is heavy fog because the soil above is still unstable after the continuous heavy rains last week, he said.
“If you travel during the day you will be able to see if there are rocks or boulders in the path,” Alingasa said.
A landslide occurred in the area on Thursday and the rubble was immediately cleared, he said. However, another landslide in the same area occurred at 5:52 p.m. on Friday, Alingasa said.
The landslide hit area is located about 8 kilometers from the San Carlos City proper, he said.
San Carlos Mayor Renato Gustilo said more than one lane of the landslide-hit highway has been cleared for vehicles to pass, and hopefully work can be completed on the second lane by Monday.
The mayor said he supervised the clearing operations on Saturday and Sunday.
“Our local DRRM Office also deployed vehicles and its personnel in the area to help transport stranded individuals and ensure their safety. Our City Engineering Department and DPWH likewise worked tirelessly to clear our roads,” he added.
They have identified four high risk landslide prone areas along the Eco-Translink Highway from Salvador Benedicto to San Carlos City, Alingasa said.*