Binay orders immediate evacuation on rockslide areas

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay on Friday ordered officials of Barangay East Rembo to immediately evacuate around 10 families living in a declared 'danger zone' below the ridge along C-5 on 12th Avenue where a rockslide occurred Thursday, injuring at least four persons.

Binay said a team of city engineers conducted an ocular inspection of the area and found some portions of the ridge to be 'unstable' and prone to more rockslides, hence the need to immediately clear the area of all settlers.

"The Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD) is now closely coordinating with the barangay officials of East Rembo to arrange for the immediate evacuation of the affected families to a safer place. I have also given specific instructions to Brgy. East Rembo officials to ensure that no other structure shall be allowed in areas that may put lives in danger," Binay said.

MSWD officials and social workers, together with barangay officials, have called the concerned residents to a dialogue today to discuss arrangements for relocation. The city government through MSWD has a number of programs in place to assist informal settlers, including the 'Balik-Probinsiya' program wherein they will be given financial assistance to return to their respective hometowns and start anew.

Prior to the incident, the city engineering office had sent letters to the Metro Manila Development Authority requesting to finish the construction of slope protection (retaining wall) on the said ridge citing possible danger it may pose on the public.

In a report to the Mayor following the incident, Rose Yumul from the engineering office's Enforcement Division OIC, said they already noticed cracks on the rockface prompting them to inform the DPWH as early as July 2007, but the latter took no action to date.

The city engineering team informed both agencies that continuous downpour of waste water from the top of the ridge may worsen its stability and may cause erosion or rockslide.

The engineering office pointed out, however, that it cannot be immediately determined if the incident was caused by the ongoing construction, which was being blamed by some residents for the rockslide, as it is located a mere 15 meters away from where the rockslide occurred.

Meanwhile, the two victims who were rushed to Ospital ng Makati by rescue teams have been declared by doctors in stable condition. MSWD officials have arranged for continuing medical assistance to be extended to Kenny Rose Valerio, 22 years old, and Dondon Meastro, 17. (PIA)