The CDRRMO has already restricted access to the waterfall and its vicinity due to the extreme and often sudden change in water movement of the Talomo River as well as the very high probability of a landslide due to soil erosion and loose rocks in the surrounding area.
“Asik-Asik Falls was assessed by our assessment team last February 23 pa tong 2022. Tungod kay naa man gud mga report didto na naay mga nagaligo didto nga very hazardous na lugar,” CDRRMO head Alfredo Baloran said in a report from the City Information Office on Thursday (Jan. 19).
Baloran said people still visit Asik Asik Falls for leisure, despite warning not to visit the area.
The city already placed several warning signs to discourage people from visiting the site, however, people still visit Asik Asik Falls for leisure, Baloran said.
On January 15, CDRRMO,received reports of mass wasting in the area, signalling an impending landslide. The CDRRMO immediately reiterated its warnings and coordinated with local functionaries to completely restrict access to Asik-Asik and its vicinity.
“Naa nay mga indicators, naa nay mga punuan sa kahoy nga nangahulog so delikado gyud. That’s why gi-call namo ang barangay council sa Barangay Tamayong and Barangay Carmen na tabangan ang atong opisina to restrain any individuals na mag-adto didto,” he said.
Baloran also said the CDRRMO also called on the assistance of the security cluster to provide patrols to ensure that people will no longer sneak in, citing a rescue operation the CDRRMO conducted last year to save nine visitors trapped in the fall's vicinity as water level in the Talomo River suddenly rose.
Although no report of injuries nor deaths have been recorded in the Mini Asik-Asik to date, Baloran said that the ongoing wet climate, which is expected to continue until March will trigger erosions in ravines and foothills in the area, making a landslide incident even more probable.
The CDRRMO chief urged everyone to heed the office’s warnings.
He said for everyone’s safety, “especially kadtong mga mahilig sa mag-picture or magligo-ligo, palihug lang ayaw lang sa Asik-Asik Falls kay delikado and naay impending hazards. To avoid accidents, ayaw na lang gyud mo og adto,” Baloran further said.
Photos from City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office