SEARCH and rescue operations for the couple feared buried under a massive landslide in Quezon, Bukidnon, continues.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Technical Group has laid out an initial two-week plan to construct a temporary detour road beside the collapsed section of the Bukidnon–Davao (BuDa) Road in Sitio Kipolot, Barangay Palacapao, Quezon.
This comes after the massive landslide that occurred on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, prompting immediate response from national and local teams.
The rescue operations were temporarily suspended on Monday afternoon due to soil movement concerns at the site.
The operation, in its second day as of Oct. 20, 2025, involves approximately 400 responders at the landslide area near Overview, Sitio Kipolot, in Barangay Palacapao, based on the latest update of the Municipality of Quezon.
The couple, who are residents of Barangay Palacapao, have been missing since the landslide occurred on Saturday night, Oct. 18, 2025.
While the victims’ “bao-bao” (motorized tricycle) was recovered by search and rescue teams, the couple remains unaccounted for.
Soil movement forces suspension
Authorities paused the search at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 20, after technical personnel confirmed that the soil in the landslide area had shifted back by two meters.
This movement poses a significant risk to the large team of responders, which includes personnel from the PDRRMO, various municipal DRRMOs, police, military, and fire departments.
Rescuers are utilizing K9 units and specialized scanners to assist in the operation.
DPWH plans two-week detour
Amid the rescue efforts, officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) central, regional, and district offices were also on-site to assess the damage to the major thoroughfare.
The DPWH technical group announced an initial plan to construct a detour road adjacent to the collapsed section of the Bukidnon-Davao Road. The agency estimates the detour will be completed within two weeks.
Local authorities issued a public safety warning, urging residents to exercise extreme caution during heavy rainfall and to avoid landslide-prone areas.
Meanwhile, the municipal DRRMO hotline remains open for emergencies 09706219407.
Photo courtesy of Municipality of Quezon
