Landslide affects 3-hectare cacao, fruit farm in Davao City

A landslide caused by inclement weather hit a three-hectare cacao and fruit farm in Davao City, GMA Regional TV One Mindanao's Rgil Relator reported Tuesday on 24 Oras.

The farm was buried under dirt and rocks when part of a mountain in Barangay Saloy slid down due to the continuous rain.

“Masakit talaga pero hindi naman natin mapigilan dahil kalikasan na ‘yan," said Merlita Macunay, who still carried the cacao she was supposed to plant for the day.

"Ang cacao na tanim na asawa ko, mahigit isanglibo. Ang lansones nasa mahigit dalawangdaan. Ang niyog nasa mahigit isangdaan dahil isang ektarya at kalahati ang area namin.” 

(It hurts, but we can’t stop it since it’s nature. The cacao that my husband planted, it’s more than 1,000. The number of lansones is more than 200. The coconuts are more than 100 since our area is a hectare and a half.)

“Bigla na lang na parang may pumutok. Akala ko ay kumukulog lang. Iba sa pakiramdam," added Elizabeth Soco, another affected farmer who heard the January 31 landslide.

"Kinabukasan, pagtingin namin, hala, wala na talaga. Malinis na ang aming taniman ng cacao. Wala kaming magawa.”
 
(There was a sudden exploding sound. I thought it was just thunder. It felt different. The next day, when we checked, oh no, it’s gone. Our cacao crop was swept away. We couldn’t do anything.)

A final assessment by the City Agriculturist’s Office would determine the extent of the damage.

Meanwhile, barangay officials in the area went about making makeshift repairs on nearby roads, filling in cracks with limestones.

The 20th Davao City Council, for its part, approved the declaration of a state of calamity in 23 barangays.

Up to P84 million in calamity funds would thus be available for affected residents.

Davao Oriental

In Barangay Mamali, Mati City, Davao Oriental, residents worked together to remove stones and gravel that floods deposited in their homes and roads.

A water pipe in the area was also damaged.

“May mga bato at mga naanod na mga kahoy. Dumiretso dito, buti may nakaharang na kawayan,” said Barangay Mamali resident Junjun Gio.

(There were stones and logs. It floated here, but good thing the bamboo blocked the way.)

Based on the assessment of Davao Oriental Governor Niño Uy, water courses in the locality needed to be cleared of debris so locals could have access to clean water.

Meanwhile, the LGU continued its efforts to distribute relief goods to affected residents.

“Mag-coordinate sa mga barangay government at LGU natin. By the time ma-release ang financial assistance, lahat ma-cover na doon,” said Uy.

(Coordinate with the barangay government and our LGU. By the time the financial assistance is released, all will be covered under that.) — Jiselle Casucian/DVM, GMA Integrated News