Tacloban residents unfazed by landslide threats

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 19 -- Several residents refused to leave their landslide-prone community at the city’s Quarry district even after four of their neighbors were buried alive by mudslides last week.

The unavailability of a safe place to stay was the main reason why they continued to stay in their old houses, unfazed by imminent danger, said villager Gloria Panis.

“What can we do? We don’t have any place to transfer to,” said Panis, who lived at his brother’s house, near the landslide site.

She moved to her brother’s place after the landslide destroyed their home Saturday night.

“Had the government awarded to us the housing unit promised to us, we would not be staying in this place,” Panis said.

About 30 families in the Quarry district were displaced due to rain-induced landslide that killed four residents. At least five houses were buried and five others were partly damaged.

Village chief Regina Belarmino said residents living at the foot of the hill were beneficiaries of permanent housing projects.

“They have permanent houses, but they refused to stay and transfer there because it is far from the city, far from the school, and far from their workplace,” Belarmino said.

The January 13 landslide in Quarry district was the second one in a month.

On Dec. 14, 2017, two residents were hurt by erosions. (RTA/PNA)