Residents of Barangay Mulao in Compostela are calling for urgent government action following months of inaccessibility along a provincial road connecting their community to Barangay Dapdap.
The road, identified as the Barangay Mulao access road to Barangay Dapdap, was severely damaged after a landslide triggered by Typhoon Tino on November 4, cutting off a key access route used by upland communities.
Barangay Mulao Secretary Ginalyn Cañete said the situation has made daily travel difficult, especially for students and workers who rely on the route.
“Hirap talaga yung mga estudyante at mga tao. Yung pamasahe naging doble o triple na kasi umiikot pa sila sa diversion road,” Cañete said.
With the main road still impassable, residents are forced to take a longer diversion route passing through Puroks 6, 7, and 8. However, the alternative route remains unfinished and becomes difficult to traverse, particularly during heavy rains.
“May ginawa kaming diversion road, pero hindi pa rin tapos. Pag maulan, maputik, madulas, mahirap talaga dumaan,” she said.
Cañete said the barangay has already raised the issue with local and provincial officials, including visits from authorities after the typhoon. Despite this, residents say there has been little to no clear update on repairs.
“Matagal na itong na-report. Marami na rin ang nanawagan, even online, pero hanggang ngayon wala pa ring malinaw na aksyon,” she said. “Kawawa yung mga tao.”
The damaged road serves as a crucial link between Barangays Mulao and Dapdap. Without it, residents have to travel significantly farther, adding up to nearly two kilometers or more just to reach nearby areas.
Some students, Cañete said, continue to risk crossing the damaged section despite “no entry” warnings, choosing the shorter but dangerous path over the longer diversion route.
“May ‘no entry’ na, pero tumatawid pa rin yung iba kasi mas malayo kung iikot pa,” she said.
During a visit to the area on February 23, residents were seen carefully crossing the damaged road, including a pregnant woman accompanied by her two children, showing the lack of safe and accessible alternatives.
Narrow foot trails have formed across the landslide, carved by residents who continue to pass through the area on foot despite the danger. Loose rocks and unstable soil line the uneven path, with steep drops on either side, roughly the height of a five to six storey building.
For residents like Jemuel Oliverio of Barangay Mulao, the impact extends beyond inconvenience and into lost livelihoods.
“Panawagan ko lang sa gobyerno na sana mapansin nila yung sitwasyon dito. Marami talagang naapektuhan,” Oliverio said.
“Yung may maliliit na negosyo, pati yung mga namamasada, lalo na yung habal habal drivers, nawalan ng hanapbuhay.”
He said the road has long served not just one barangay but multiple upland communities that depend on it as a main access route.
“Ito yung nakasanayan ng mga taga bundok. Hindi lang ito para sa isang barangay, marami ang dumadaan dito kasi ito ang mas accessible na ruta,” he said.
“Sana mapag aralan ng gobyerno kung ano ang pinakamagandang gawin. Buhay ng tao ang nakataya.”
Residents also raised concerns over safety, especially with unstable ground conditions caused by continuous rains.
“Sobrang delikado talaga. Lalo na pag maulan, lumalambot ang lupa, baka anytime bumigay,” Oliverio said.
From neighboring Barangay Dapdap, Efren Martil also called on Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro.
“Nanawagan ako kay Gov. Pam na sana makita mo Gov ang nangyayari sa bukirang bayan ng Compostela lalo sa Mulao patungong Tagubi, Ilang buwan na itong problema,” Martil said.
“Hirap na hirap ang mga bata kahit matatanda, at delikado pa ang pagtawid. Sobrang layo na ng iniikot namin papuntang school at trabaho.”
As the damaged road remains unrepaired, residents continue to navigate longer routes, higher transport costs, and daily risks.
Months after the landslide, the road remains cut, and so is access to safer travel. For residents, the question now is not just when it will be fixed, but how long they will have to keep risking their lives before action comes.
Photos by Jacqueline Hernandez/PBB
