Despite the lack of backing from their municipal and barangay officials, concerned residents of Barangay Poblacion in La Trinidad were able to convince the developers of a subdivision on top of a mountain to stop their massive earth-moving activity.

“There is genuine fear the earth-moving activities will trigger a disaster,” said former councilor William Esteban who joined residents the other week in convincing a construction crew to stop their massive earth-moving activities.

Esteban said last week the earthmoving activities were being conducted by the Cordillera Homes Saint Francis Subdivision on top of a mountain in the vicinity of the Justice Hill in Sitio Kesbeng.

It is located about half a kilometer away on the same mountain where a mountainside eroded at the height of Typhoon Pepeng, burying several houses and claiming several lives.

He said the residents agreed to let the subdivision proceed with rip-rapping activities but made it clear they would not tolerate any more diggings.

He wondered if the subdivision developers were issued a road right of way permit despite lack of consultation with residents and lack of consent from neighboring landowners.

“The previous developer stopped from proceeding because he could not get a road right of way permit,” he said.  “Does this mean the current developers were able to acquire a permit?”

Esteban’s action, however, was resented by the developers who had the incident recorded in the police blotter on Feb. 22.

In the police entry, the representatives of the subdivision accused Esteban of threats, harassment and trespassing.

They said Esteban urged the residents to bring along their bolos and to bury the developers.

Esteban denied this, saying that he merely expressed the fear that the project would bury nearby residents alive in case of a disaster.

He said whoever allowed the subdivision developers to proceed without consultation and without the consent of adjoining landowners have no conscience and concern for the well-being of local residents.

Other residents said the silence of their municipal and barangay officials regarding the project is a cause of concern and dismay.