New Landslide Blocks Key Bukidnon Road Amid Heavy Rains

A major landslide has once again blocked a key road in Bukidnon, Philippines, on Monday morning, just a day after a vital route linking the province with Davao del Norte was reopened following a similar collapse. The latest incident buried a two-lane concrete road in Sitio Balakayo, Barangay Kalagangan, San Fernando town, rendering it impassable to all types of vehicles. Jeofry Catanus of the San Fernando Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said the landslide occurred before dawn, following days of moderate to heavy rainfall in the area. He noted that approximately 40 to 45 meters of the road were covered with mud, rocks, uprooted vegetation, and other debris. Clearing operations were immediately launched by the San Fernando local government, with heavy equipment deployed alongside personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bukidnon 1st District Engineering Office. Authorities could not yet estimate when the road would be reopened as clearing operations were still underway Monday morning. The recent event occurred less than 24 hours after a landslide in Sitio Cabadiangan, Talaingod, Davao del Norte, temporarily rendered the Kapalong–Talaingod–Valencia road impassable. That road, a major link between Bukidnon and Davao del Norte, was reopened Sunday afternoon after the Davao del Norte provincial government cleared the debris. Disaster officials warned that the continuing rains have increased the risk of landslides across the mountainous border areas of Bukidnon and Davao del Norte, urging motorists to exercise caution, especially during periods of heavy rainfall. These recurring incidents highlight the vulnerability of the Philippines' infrastructure, particularly in remote and mountainous regions, to the impacts of the rainy season. Such disruptions can significantly affect logistics, trade, and daily life for communities reliant on these routes.