• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
It may take a year or more to clear the Tamburong Creek in Barangay Biak na Bato in La Castellana, Negros Occidental of accumulated volcanic sediments, including hardened lahar, according to estimates of the town’s Incident Management Team (IMT).
An estimated 28,000 cubic meters of sand and volcanic materials are needed to be extracted from the creek.
IMT commander Remuel Lajo said that after almost a week of clearing, only 808 cubic meters of materials were taken and transferred to the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park disposal area.
“There are still tons of sand on the upper portion of the creek and when rains come, debris from the upstream refills the cleared areas,” he added.
Lajo said the limited number of heavy equipment for excavation and dump trucks for hauling sediments remains a challenge.
One of the two heavy equipment units, a payloader from the provincial government, has bogged down.
Lajo stressed the need for more heavy equipment and dump trucks to speed up the clearing operation as the present weather condition is still favorable. | GB
