Forced evacuation ordered for residents of Davao del Sur sitio after strong quake

The local government of Magsaysay town in Davao del Sur has ordered residents of Sitio Labidangan in Brgy. Upper Bala to evacuate in light of the magnitude 6.3 earthquake that rocked parts of Mindanao last week.

This was after experts from the PHIVOLCS inspection team confirmed that the entire community is in danger.

Jeffrey Perez, a part of the inspection team, said large tension cracks which appeared underneath the houses in Sitio Labidangan indicate that a landslide in the community is very imminent.

Another strong quake or heavy rains can trigger a landslide and wipe out the entire sitio, which is situated on a sloping ground.

Following the order, residents started packing to flee to safer grounds. Perla Oliman, 68, said it pains to leave the sitio which has been her home for more than 40 years. She, however, said she cannot afford to put her grandchildren in harm’s way.

Another resident, Gerney Bocuya, appealed to fellow Davaoeño, President Rodrigo Duterte, for food and construction materials as they struggle to find a new relocation site for their families.

Meanwhile, Magsaysay Mayor Arthur Davin assured the affected residents that the local government will continue to use its resources to feed the displaced families.
Davin, however, admitted that the municipality's P11-million pesos calamity fund is not enough to fund the projected P200-million cost of rebuilding infrastructure damaged by the quake. —KBK, GMA News