By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental’s San Carlos City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO) has advised motorists to avoid passing along the Eco-translink Highway at night due to the threat of landslides.

In a social media post by the City DRRMO, Mayor Rene Gustilo had recently inspected a portion of the highway at Upper Caticlan, part of the city’s Barangay Rizal.

They have already pre-positioned some of their equipment to help travelers who may get stranded in the area.

The City Engineering Office and the local Department of Public Works and Highways are assigned to immediately conduct clearing operations should the roads get blocked again due to landslides.

Last week, heavy rains brought by a shear line and a low pressure area caused the soil near the highway to be completely soaked.

The highway connects San Carlos City to the province’s Don Salvador Benedicto town, and is also a major link to Bacolod City, with travel time of only two hours, compared to the three- to four-hour route via Escalante City.

The route is also the most popular for travelers heading to Cebu province due to shorter travel time./DGB, WDJ