Several landcracks and landslides were reported in different parts of Bohol province following days of heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi), which loosened the soil in mountain and coastal areas.
In Garcia Hernandez town, a huge boulder blocked a portion of the national highway in Barangay Malinao on Wednesday after a landslide occurred along the coastal road. Personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 3rd Engineering District immediately conducted clearing operations to reopen the affected section. Municipal authorities also reported the appearance of large ground cracks in the mountain barangay of Candanas, with some measuring over 100 meters long and about seven centimeters deep. The local government temporarily closed the road leading to the affected area, warning that it is now ‘dangerous for public use.’
‘The LGU of Garcia Hernandez remains on alert and continues to monitor all barangays to ensure the safety and security of residents,’ the municipal government said in a statement.
In Jagna town, residents of Barangay Mayana, an upland village, were alarmed after a landslide occurred on Tuesday night, at a portion of Mt. Matunog, locally known as ‘Pangpang ni San Roque’ (Cliff of San Roque).
Barangay Captain Servando Acas said the incident happened past 7 p.m. when residents heard a loud rumbling sound of falling rocks.
‘It caused alarm to the people of Mayana,’ Acas said, recalling that the slide occurred in the same area that experienced a major landslide in July 2005. The old crack, about 80 meters wide, reportedly widened as rainwater seeped into the ground in recent days.
At least 80 houses in Sitio Balikbayan, located about 300 meters from the foot of Mt. Matunog, were identified as being within the potential risk zone. However, authorities said no evacuation has been ordered as of Wednesday.
Personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) inspected and mapped the affected area Wednesday afternoon to assess the ground stability and possible hazards.
Acas said the barangay council is considering a temporary suspension of tourism activities at Mt. Matunog, one of Bohol’s highest peaks, as a precautionary measure. Residents will also be restricted from entering areas within 300 meters of the affected slope.
He urged residents to stay vigilant and ready to respond to emergency advisories.
Barangay Mayana, located about 17 kilometers from Jagna town proper, sits at an elevation of 819 meters above sea level and spans 420 hectares. It is known as one of the province’s key vegetable and flower-producing communities, home to 2,530 residents in 404 households.
In 2005, a massive landslide in Sitio Balikbayan destroyed 10 houses and 16 farm lots, affecting about 160 hectares-or nearly 38 percent-of the barangay’s total land area. The debris movement also disrupted the Jagna-Sierra Bullones National Road and nearby barangay routes.