The aftermath of Typhoon Tino has left Barangay Lusaran and surrounding communities in Cebu City severely isolated, with damaged mountain roads and a collapsed bridge creating major obstacles for delivering emergency assistance to affected residents.
Critical Infrastructure Damage Hinders Relief Efforts
Mayor Nestor Archival personally led a response team to inspect the damage in Lusaran on Saturday, November 8, where he confirmed the gravity of the situation. The destruction of the Lusaran bridge has proven particularly problematic, preventing heavy equipment and emergency vehicles from reaching the most affected areas.
"The bridge in Lusaran has been cut off, making it extremely difficult for heavy equipment and emergency vehicles to pass through," Mayor Archival reported, emphasizing how this situation has complicated aid delivery to isolated sitios. Limited access to electricity and water has further exacerbated the crisis in the impacted areas.
Ongoing Clearing Operations and Road Accessibility
The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) have deployed additional equipment including payloaders, backhoes, chainsaws, and hauling trucks to clear debris and reopen interior roads. The DEPW has also been working to reinforce slopes to prevent further collapses.
According to DEPW updates, several mountain routes have now become passable, including most sections of the Transcentral Highway, the Paril-Cambinocot-Lusaran corridor, and Sitio Burgos in Pulangbato - areas that were among the most isolated following the typhoon.
However, significant challenges remain with certain interior roads still inaccessible. The Lusaran-Manggabon stretch, Sitio Tayabas in Pulangbato, and portions of Sudlon II, Buot-Taup, and Toong continue to undergo clearing operations.
Safety Warnings and Relief Distribution
The DEPW has issued warnings to motorists to exercise extreme caution due to unstable slopes and weakened embankments that continue to pose dangers. Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) has deployed multiple teams to validate damage assessments and distribute aid to severely affected barangays.
In Barangay Bonbon, DSWS personnel have completed family validation in Sitio Biasong, while another team was dispatched to Barangay Toong to assess house damage and identify residents requiring shelter and food assistance.
The coordinated emergency response continues as authorities work against time to restore access and provide essential supplies to communities still cut off from help.
