ILOILO – From 22, the number houses affected by Saturday’s landslide in Sitio Rumbang, Barangay Igpigus, Igbaras, Iloilo rose to 38.
A total of 189 individuals from 50 families were displaced, according to Mayor Vicente Escorpion.
Twelve of the houses were buried under loose soil, mud and stones.
The provincial government would be releasing financial assistance to families, according to Dr. Neneth Pador, head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).
Pador went to Igbaras on Saturday but failed to reach the mountainous Sitio Rumbang. It was raining hard.
Igbaras was one of the 10 municipalities in Iloilo that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Western Visayas identified as prone to landslides.
The nine other towns were Leon, Tubungan, Miag-ao, San Joaquin, Maasin, Janiuay, Calinog, Lambunao, and Alimodian.
According to MGB Region 6 chief geologist Mae Magarzo, natural factors contribute to landslides such as steep slopes, weak rock characteristics, loose thick soil and poor vegetation.
They are also triggered by rain which saturates and loosens rock and soil, or by ground movement caused by an earthquake, added Magarzo.
Pador said PSWDO usually releases a maximum of P5,000 financial assistance to a family in a “crisis situation.”
“Hopefully tomorrow (Monday) kon madala insigida ang mga requirements, probably in a day makuha na nila ang assistance,” said Pador yesterday.
The requirements include a Certificate of Indigency from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Certificate of Residency from the barangay council, a photo of the damaged house, and a copy of the police blotter about the landslide.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6, on the other hand, would be distributing food packs to the affected families.
The landslide occurred at around 1 a.m. on Aug. 4. Fortunately, no one died or got injured.
Mayor Escorpion told Panay News several other families in Sitio Rumbang left their houses after seeing cracks on the ground.
The Philippine Red Cross-Iloilo, meanwhile, brought in food packs and necessary items such mats and pails, among others.
The Provincial Health Office provided medicines./PN
