Cracks found in 3 villages in Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato

Local authorities in Sultan Kudarat are on alert fearing possible landslides, as cracks and crevices were discovered by residents in a mountainous area of Bagong Bayan town this province. Fearing of a landslide similar to what occurred in Saint Bernard town in Southern Leyte last February 17, a team from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the police conducted on Thursday a survey on the village of Titulok, Bagong Bayan after a week of heavy rains. Sr. Insp. Justino Katiwalaan, Bagong Bayan police chief, said if heavy rains continue, a portion of the mountain near the village of Titulok might give-in. Katiwalaan feared that what happened in Saint Bernard town where a landslide buried the village of Guinsaugon might also happen to Titulok. He said another high risk area is the village of Poblacion in Envirin Town where about 150 houses might be affected by a landslide. Meanwhile, cracks were also reported on a mountainous portion of Tampakan village in South Cotabato where mining operations were reported on-going. However, the Bureau of Mines and Geo Sciences of the DENR said mining exploration activities being conducted by the Sagittarius Mines Inc (SMI) has nothing to do with causing the cracks on the mountain slopes. The environmental group Columbio Multi-Sectoral Ecology Movement (CMEM) based in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat believed otherwise. Audey Atable, chairperson of CMEM said, a landslide like what happened in Guinsaugon village in Leyte could happen in the area anytime if mining in the area contionues.-GMANews.TV