Landslide cuts off another Bukidnon-Davao road link

Debris, rocks, and uprooted trees cover a 35-meter stretch of the concrete highway at Sitio Sapiki in Paquibato District, Davao City, following a landslide triggered by heavy rains on July 23. The incident rendered the road connecting San Fernando, Bukidnon, to Davao City and Panabo, Davao del Norte, impassable to all vehicles and left several motorists stranded. PHOTO BY ADELINO ESPELITA GOCOTANO VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — Heavy rains triggered a landslide on Thursday afternoon that rendered impassable to all vehicles a major road network connecting San Fernando, Bukidnon to Davao City. The affected stretch—which passes through the villages of Kalagangan, Cabuling, Durian, and Matupi in San Fernando toward Davao City’s Paquibato District and Panabo, Davao del Norte—was shut down after debris buried the concrete road around 3:00 p.m. on July 23. READ: Clearing of landslide debris from Bukidnon road may take 4 months Article continues after this advertisement Anthony Sindoy of the San Fernando Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) said an initial assessment showed that roughly 30 to 35 meters of earth, rocks, and uprooted trees covered the highway at Sitio Sapiki in Paquibato District, stranding several motorists. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 11 spokesperson Dean Ortiz confirmed Friday that engineers are currently evaluating the site to launch clearing operations as soon as conditions permit. Meanwhile, clearing efforts continue at a separate landslide site in Sitio Balakayo along the San Fernando–Talaingod–Kapalong–Tagum road. Heavy equipment from DPWH Region 10 local district engineering offices, and the San Fernando municipal government are working on-site, though persistent bad weather continues to slow progress. /jpv Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.