Councilor Roger Abaday, in his special report to the 21st City Council of Cagayan de Oro, revealed that 72 out of the city’s 80 barangays are considered landslide-prone.
He underscored the urgent need for stronger disaster preparedness and risk reduction measures, pointing out that nearly the entire city is vulnerable to soil movement, especially during heavy rains and typhoons.
Abaday recalled the tragic incident in Barangay Agusan, where a landslide triggered by Tropical Storm Basyang claimed the lives of four residents, including children, when their home collapsed under the pressure of saturated soil.
He stressed that such tragedies must not be repeated and urged tighter coordination among local government units, barangay officials, and residents.
According to him, community-level preparedness, early warning systems, and stricter monitoring of construction in hazard-prone areas are vital to safeguarding lives.
His call comes amid recent reports from the Office of Civil Defense that Basyang caused at least eight deaths nationwide, four of which were in Cagayan de Oro.
The city has also experienced multiple landslides in recent years, including eight separate incidents in October 2025 that forced evacuations in several barangays.
Abaday’s report highlights the scale of the risk and the pressing need for proactive measures to strengthen resilience and protect communities from future disasters.
