Talisay residents appeal for safe passage after viral mountainside crossing

Residents of Brgy. Camp 4 in Talisay, Cebu are calling for urgent action after a video showing them risking their lives along the side of a steep mountain just to get home went viral online.

In the video shown on "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," residents were seen forming a single-file line as they dug into soft soil to create a narrow path for schoolchildren who could not cross the river due to strong floods.

"Napaka-delikado ng buhay nila. Sana maaksyunan ito," one resident said.

["Their lives are in great danger. I hope action is taken on this."]

To reach their homes, residents must first cross a river. When the water rises, they are left with no safe option.

"Nasanay na lang kasi palagi kaming dumadaan. Kapag mataas ang baha, wala naman kaming ibang dadaanan. Dito lang," construction worker Jay-R said.

["We've just grown used to passing through here. When the floodwaters are high, we don't have any other way to go."]

Jeepney driver Fernando, who has lived in the barangay for nearly five decades, was among those seen in the viral clip.

On February 9, 2025, as heavy rains poured, he rushed to fetch his 10-year-old daughter, Mariel, from school.

"Pagdating ko rito, wala na. Laki na ng baha. Kaya naghanap ako ng way," he said.

["When I arrived here, there's already flooding. We needed to find another way."]

Their fastest route home takes only 15 minutes, but it requires walking along a steep mountain edge where only one foot can fit at a time.

Fernando borrowed a shovel and carefully carved steps into the soil.

"Bawat hakbang ko, iniisa-isa ko muna 'yun," he said, adding that he avoided cracked portions of the ground, fearing that anyone who stepped there could fall straight into the river.

["We take one step at a time."]

For longtime residents like Fernando, this has become routine.

"Dito na ako pinanganak. 'Yan talaga ang ginagawa namin. Daanan talaga namin 'yan diyan," he said. "Normal na sa amin 'yung baha."

[""I was born here. That is really what we do. That is really our way through there. The flooding has become normal to us."]

Still, they know the danger.

"Kasi delikado eh. 'Pag madulas ka, diretso ka sa ilog. Wala kang mahawakan."

["It's very dangerous. If you slip, you go straight into the river. You have nothing to hold onto."]

One resident, Danny, fell about five feet after a piece of wood he was holding snapped. He suffered head and knee injuries.

In October 2024, a hanging bridge was built in their sitio, cutting travel time to the town proper to just minutes.

But after nearly 11 months, it collapsed when Typhoon Tino hit in November 2025.

Residents tried to build a temporary structure, but they said it would not last when floods rise again.

"Kahapon nagpag-isip-isip ko na gumawa ng tulay para lang may madaanan 'yung mga estudyante namin at saka trabahante. For temporary lang," Fernando said.

["Yesterday, I thought about building a bridge just so our students and workers would have a way to get through. It's just for temporary use."]

For now, many still pass through the mountainside despite the risk.

Jay-R, who was seen continuing the crossing even after others turned back, said he needed to report for work.

"Tumawid ako kasi may pinuntahan akong trabaho para may maliit na income," he said. "Kawawa talaga kami. Lalo na kapag masama ang panahon, kapag baha hindi kami makalabas ng bahay."

["I crossed because I had to get to work to earn a little income. We are in a truly pitiful state. Especially when the weather is bad—when it floods, we can't even leave our houses."]

He added that ongoing quarrying operations in the area have made the path narrower and more difficult, further increasing the risk for residents.

When rains are strong, Mariel's mother, Abby, sometimes chooses not to send her to school.

"Hindi namin gusto na dadaan kami palagi doon sa gilid ng bukid kasi delikado lalo na palagi nagla-landslide," she said.

["We don't want to always pass by the edge of the field because it's dangerous, especially since landslides happen all the time."]

Mariel, now in Grade 5, shared how she feels when she misses class.

"Nami-miss ko 'yung paaralan ko kapag hindi ako makapasok," Mariel, who dreams of becoming a teacher, said.

["I miss my school when I'm not able to attend."]

While their school tries to help by sending modules during bad weather, Fernando said the constant flooding continues to disrupt his daughter's learning.

After the video went viral, barangay officials banned residents from using the mountain path and placed signage and guards in the area.

"Nagpatawag po ako ng emergency meeting sa council namin. Sinabi ko sa kanila na hindi na payagan na tumawid ang mga estudyante doon kasi peligro ang buhay nila," Barangay Captain Rowena said.

["I called an emergency meeting with our council. I told them that we should no longer allow students to cross there because their lives are in danger."]

Still, with no immediate alternative route available, some residents continue to cross out of necessity and are urging authorities to rebuild the hanging bridge as soon as possible.

"Ang panawagan ko lang sana, maikabit nila agad 'yung tulay," Fernando said.

["My only plea is that they install the bridge immediately."]

Jay-R echoed the same appeal and said, "Ang gusto sana namin ay maibalik 'yung hanging bridge. Importante 'yun sa amin."

["What we really want is for the hanging bridge to be restored. It's very important to us."]

Local officials said they are studying two options: building a new hanging bridge or relocating about 10 families to the other side of the river.

"We have two options, gagawa tayo ng bagong hanging bridge. Then second, maghanap na lang kami ng safe na lugar na yung 10 families doon ilipat na lang namin dito sa kabilang side ng river para safety talaga, hindi na sila tatawid ng river," Talisay Mayor's Executive Secretary Dr. Jomar Rubio said.

["We have two options: we can build a new hanging bridge, or second, we can just find a safe area and relocate the 10 families there to this side of the river for their total safety, so they won't have to cross the river anymore."]

However, relocation is not easy for families like Fernando's.

"Wala akong matirahan na iba," he said. "Pupunta tayo, sa iba, malaking gastos. Gagawa ka ng bahay, bibili ka ng lupa. Eh dito, may lupa kami, e 'di dito na lang kami."

["We have nowhere else to live. If we go somewhere else, it's a huge expense. We have to build a house, we have to buy land. But here, we already have land, so we'll just stay here."]

KMJS has reached out to the Department of Public Works and Highways Region 7 for a statement. According to the agency, the matter has already been endorsed to the proper authorities. As of writing, they have yet to provide an official statement. —JCB, GMA Integrated News