DANGER ZONES. The North Cotabato provincial government has issued a public warning on exploring 'danger zones' in the province after three teenagers trekked recently to landslide-prone Barangay Buena Vista, Makilala, North Cotabato. Acting Vice-Governor Shirlyn Macasarte-Villanueva expressed dismay on Wednesday (Nov. 13, 2019) after this photo of the teenagers went viral in social media. (Photo courtesy of North Cotabato PDRRMO)
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Disaster officials on Wednesday issued a stern warning against individuals who venture into hiking toward landslide areas earlier declared as “no man’s land” due to the high possibility of huge soil erosion as aftershocks continue to rock North Cotabato.
North Cotabato Vice Governor Shirlyn Macasarte-Villanueva, head of Provincial Unified Incident Command Team (IMT) based at the Makilala town hall grounds, issued the warning after three teenagers went up the landslide area in Makilala recently and declared they have conquered the slopes of Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak.
The trio went by foot to the landslide area in Sitio Apoy-Apoy, Barangay Buena Vida, Makilala, stayed and posed for a photo session for about an hour then posted it on social media.
The post went viral as of Monday night.
The visibly furious Villanueva described their acts as “pasikat” (braggadocio).
She summoned the three teenagers whose names were not made public for questioning and reminded them that what they have done was extremely dangerous.
She said local officials are working hard to ensure every resident is safe from harm following the series of earthquakes that rocked Makilala and North Cotabato since Oct. 16.
She warned adventurists who have the intention to go to the "no-build zone landslide areas’" for posterity sake, saying that the IMT would think twice on responding to their emergency calls.
Villanueva said soldiers, police, fire officers and other disaster officials are risking their own lives to save others and there are some people “playing jokes” by going up there.
Barangay Buena Vida in Makilala has been declared as a danger zone by disaster and environment officials. (PNA)
