Baguio Landslide Crisis: 220 Families Get Aid as Rains Push More Residents From Their Homes

BAGUIO CITY — At least 220 families, or 1,012 individuals, affected by days of relentless rain and landslides in Baguio City are receiving assistance from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), as authorities continue to manage evacuations and assess areas threatened by unstable slopes.

The figure, reported by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) on August 14, includes families displaced or otherwise affected by landslides and continuous rainfall across the city. The Guisad Surong landslide victims remain among the top priorities of the city’s response.

The deadly incident struck Barangay Guisad Surong on August 9, burying houses and leaving 10 people dead and three survivors. GMA News reported that all 13 people initially reported missing were eventually accounted for, with three found alive. Five of those who died were learners, according to the Department of Education.

27 families remain at evacuation center

According to CSWDO Officer Liza Bulayungan, 27 families composed of 103 individuals affected by the Guisad Surong landslide are staying at the Baguio International Academy evacuation center, while another two families are sheltered at a barangay hall.

Thirteen families have been assessed as potentially safe to return home, but their return remains subject to final validation by the Baguio City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Families whose homes were completely destroyed or whose properties are inside a permanent danger zone will not be permitted to return.

Instead, the city is preparing three to four months of temporary housing or rental assistance while coordinating with national government agencies for longer-term relocation.

Baguio’s landslide threat goes beyond Guisad Surong

The scale of the disaster is not limited to the deadly Guisad Surong incident.

ABS-CBN News reported that 44 landslide, rockslide and soil-erosion incidents had been recorded across Baguio City as of August 12, highlighting the wider threat posed by prolonged rainfall in the mountainous city.

The continuing rain has also been linked to damage and landslides elsewhere in the Cordillera region. The Philippine News Agency reported nearly ₱950 million in estimated infrastructure damage across the region following days of rain associated with tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay and the enhanced southwest monsoon.

The situation is part of a much larger weather-related emergency across the country. ABS-CBN News, citing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, reported on August 14 that more than 4.1 million people had been affected by the combined impacts of Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay and the enhanced southwest monsoon, or Habagat.

Rainfall surpassed a month’s normal August volume

The amount of rain falling over Baguio has been particularly concerning.

PIA reported that rainfall recorded in the city from August 1 to 9 was equivalent to more than the city’s normal rainfall for the entire month of August, according to PAGASA.

That prolonged saturation has increased concerns over slope stability, prompting residents in vulnerable areas to evacuate even before conditions became critical.

Food and emergency assistance distributed

The CSWDO has distributed food packs, hygiene kits and cooked meals to evacuees, with assistance from residents, civic organizations and other partners.

While clothing, groceries and toiletries were reportedly sufficient at the time of the PIA report, evacuees still needed kitchen equipment, blankets and financial assistance.

Under the city ordinance cited by the CSWDO, qualified beneficiaries are also set to receive financial assistance:

• ₱20,000 for families who lost a loved one
• ₱20,000 for owners of totally damaged houses
• ₱10,000 for injured individuals
• ₱10,000 for owners of partially damaged houses

The city was preparing to release the assistance within the week of the August 14 report.

15 evacuation centers being managed

Baguio is currently managing 15 evacuation centers, including facilities in Dominican Mirador, San Luis, Kias, Asin and Manuel Roxas, as well as the Baguio International Academy.

Two church facilities — Care Baptist Church and Christ the Living Rock Ministry — are also being used as evacuation sites.

The city’s health authorities are meanwhile monitoring the condition of evacuees, particularly children, senior citizens and people requiring medical attention.

The bigger concern: where can displaced families safely go?

Beyond immediate relief, the biggest challenge facing Baguio is what happens to families who can no longer safely return home.

The city is preparing temporary rental and housing support, but long-term relocation will require coordination with national agencies. Reports have also indicated that the Guisad Surong landslide ground zero could be subjected to stricter land-use restrictions following the deadly incident.

For families who have lost homes, the crisis therefore does not end when the rain stops. They now face the difficult question of whether the places they once called home can ever again be considered safe.

As Baguio continues to recover, authorities face a race against another threat: keeping residents away from slopes and danger zones before the next landslide strikes.