EUGENIO Lopez Center (ELC), the training and development center in Antipolo owned and managed by First Philippine Realty Corporation (FPRC), remains safe following a landslide from its slope facing Sumulong Highway.

The highway was blocked by trees and soil that fell from the western slope of ELC on Saturday at the height of rains caused by typhoon Ondoy.

FPRC president Oscar R. Lopez Jr. said the situation has been assessed by a geotechnical and structural engineering consultant, and rehabilitation of the area will take into account measures recommended to stabilize and strengthen the entire compound.

ELC consists of a main building with 38 guest rooms, a lecture room, a mini theater, a library and a fitness and recreation center; a hiking trail; swimming pool, basketball court; and teambuilding facilities.

“The consultant said the building is ‘not in danger of being part of a catastrophic slide’ because the building itself is far deeper into the unaffected portion given its structural layout,” said Lopez.

The slope has been temporarily protected from rains using tarpaulin. The road was cleared through the joint efforts of FPRC sister company First Balfour Inc. and the Department of Public Works and Highways. The inner shoulder of Sumulong Highway on the side of ELC remains barricaded to prevent traffic from loading the area. The portion of the hill that slid was heavily planted with gmelinas.

“Unfortunately, gmelinas don’t have strong roots and the soil was just so saturated with rainwater that it gave way,” said Lopez.

Emilio Morales of EM2A Partners & Co., FPRC consultant, strongly recommended that residents downslope of the area be warned and located away from the path of the moving mass.

Lopez commended ELC staff who, stranded with their guests, gave an extra day and a half of service with a smile.