NAVAL, Biliran -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Biliran District Engineering Office (DEO) has completed the clearing of landslide and rockslide debris that blocked the portion of road going to Ulan-ulan Falls in Brgy. Sampao, Almeria town.

District Engineer Ferdinand A. Briones said that an estimated of 30 cubic meter landslide mass was cleared from the place.

According to the District Engineer, Biliran DEO immediately deployed its maintenance workers with the assistance from the contractor to clear the landside and rockslide area after concerned citizens reported the situation of the road to the district office.

Said tourism road is now passable to all types of vehicles, DE Briones reported.

“Ito yung’ lugar na kailangan i-rehab namin para parating madaaanan ng maayos dahil perennial ito, every time na may landslide, may rockslide, marami dito ang nasasakripisyo sa pagdaan dahil ito po ay papunta sa bundok and at the same time, doon merong mga tourist spot, so kinakailangan ma-rehab,” said Briones. (We really need to rehab this place because landslide and rockslide is perennial in this area and every time there is this kind of incidents, it will cause inconvenience to a lot of people especially in going to the mountains and at the same time to the tourist spots.)

Briones revealed that the district office has already proposed for a slope protection project in this road section going to the said tourism site.

“Meron na kaming proposal dito na slope protection para kung maulog man siya, hindi siya masyadong magco-collapse at talagang lalagyan namin ng magandang structure 'yan - yung slope protection,” said Briones. (We have already proposed for a slope protection here so that it will not easily collapse and we will definitely put up a good foundation of slope protection structure.)

According to the source, the said landslide was caused by non-stop heavy rains from the past month.

Mr. Bobby Ejorcadas, a farmer, and a resident of Brgy. Sampao, expressed his gratitude to the DPWH for their immediate action to clear the landslide.

“Maayo na ang among pag-agi tungod kay nakuha na ang landslide, dili nami maglisud. Dako akong pasalamat sa DPWH kay ilang na-aksyonan dayon! Pag-nag-landslide dili paabtan ug dugay, kuhaon na dayon kining nakabara niining kalsada,” said Mr. Ejorcadas. (Passing thru this road is now better because the landslide was removed. I am thankful to DPWH for their immediate action.)

“Salamat sa DPWH nga naayo na ning among agi-anan dinhi, dili nami maglisud sa pag-agi-agi sa among produkto gikan sa bukid,” he added. (I am very much thankful to the DPWH because they have cleared this area, because of this, we are no longer burdened in transporting our products from the mountains.)

DPWH Biliran DEO implements the construction/improvement of access road leading to Ulan-ulan Falls under multiyear funding. This year, Biliran DEO will be implementing the continuation of the road in Brgy. Tamarindo to the National Road Junction in Brgy. Sabang, Naval, Biliran amounting to P 47.85-M. (MMP/RSV/DPWH-BDEO)