History of Old Barangay Guinsaugon

In the early days, there was a place where the people were richly endowed by nature and blessed by God with various kinds of food such as root crops, fruits, and other dishes that sustained the daily needs of the community.

Because of the abundance of food, there was more than enough for the residents’ consumption. As a result, the excess food was thrown or washed away into the river.

In the years 1885–1886, the place did not yet have an official name. As years passed, and because of their customary practice of “pagsaug” or letting the leftover food drift away, the residents, led by their first leader, Pio Renegado, decided to name the place Barrio Guinsaugon.

This is the history of the origin of the barrio, now known throughout the world as Barangay Guinsaugon. The name Guinsaugon was derived from the word “guinsaug” and the suffix “-on,” taken from the word for food.

The name of the barangay was officially established in the year 1888.

• Guinsaugon was primarily a rural farming community perched at the foot of a mountain slope and lying inland from the Pacific coast, with agriculture (especially rice and coconut farming) and livestock as the main livelihoods of its people.

The 2006 Landslide Disaster — February 17, 2006

Triggering Conditions

In early February 2006, the area experienced an extended period (about 10–14 days) of heavy rain, much more than normal, which saturated the soil around the mountain slope above Guinsaugon.

On the morning of February 17, around 10:30 am, a minor earthquake (magnitude ~2.6) occurred near the community, just as the rains had eased.

 

The Catastrophic Slide

A rockslide-debris avalanche was triggered on the slopes of Mount Can-abag (also known locally as Mt. Guinsaugon). Huge volumes of rock, mud, and debris raced down the slope and buried the entire barangay in minutes.

The landslide covered hundreds of homes, farmland, and the elementary school, which was in session that morning. Many of the victims were children and teachers; local events were also underway at the barangay hall.

 

Human Toll and Immediate Aftermath

Official death toll figures vary, but authorities reported at least 1,100+ people killed — a large portion of Guinsaugon’s population at the time.

Only dozens survived by chance or because they were away from the village at the time.

Rescue efforts by local agencies, volunteers, and international partners began immediately but were hampered by thick mud, rain, and difficult terrain. After about a week, authorities shifted focus from rescue to recovery.

 

Relocation & Establishment of New Guinsaugon

Safe Resettlement After the Landslide

After the devastating landslide of February 17, 2006, which buried most of the original Guinsaugon and killed over 1,100 residents, survivors were relocated because the old site was declared unsafe and unsuitable for rebuilding.

The new settlement is located in Barangay Magbagacay, selected based on geohazard mapping, land-use planning, and safety assessments to avoid future landslide or flood risk.

Residents often refer to this relocated community as New Guinsaugon—a place where they could start anew but still carry the memory of what happened.

 

Participatory Planning

Rather than just relocating families, local leaders and survivors were engaged in planning how their new community should be built. This included careful consideration of site elevation, slope safety, and drainage, learning from past risk assessments.

🧱 Rebuilding Homes & Basic Services

🧱 Housing Construction

With help from government agencies, NGOs, and international partners, permanent housing was constructed in New Guinsaugon.

Groups such as Habitat for Humanity Philippines helped build new homes for displaced families as part of early rebuilding efforts.

Residents also practiced bayanihan (community cooperation) in building community structures like the barangay hall and other shared facilities.

 

Water, Electricity & Roads

Over time, New Guinsaugon saw the establishment of essential services:

Water supply systems and electricity were extended to the new settlement.

Access roads were improved, connecting the community more efficiently to services and markets — a key change from the remote old site.

 

Community Life & Recovery

Schools & Institutions

Education facilities were one of the priorities in the new settlement — helping children return to regular schooling as part of emotional and community recovery.

 

Livelihood and Daily Life

Recovering livelihoods was one of the biggest challenges:

Many families had been farmers before the landslide, and restoring a stable income in New Guinsaugon took time.

Municipal offices and agencies tried various livelihood programs — from farming clusters to small enterprises — but sustaining these required continuous support.

Some families also worked land around the old Guinsaugon site for farming during the day while living in the relocation area at night.

Disaster Preparedness Together

The disaster transformed the community’s approach to hazards:

Residents and local officials learned and applied disaster risk-reduction planning, such as geohazard awareness, community drills, and safe land use planning.

New Guinsaugon itself became a designated evacuation site for nearby areas during heavy rains or flooding.

 

Challenges & Long-Term Recovery

Even years after relocation, rebuilding didn’t happen overnight:

Local budgets were limited, and donor-funded projects sometimes lacked sustained livelihood support.

Rebuilding emotional resilience and economic stability took longer than rebuilding houses.

Despite this, many families rebuilt their lives, children continued schooling, and community structures were reestablished, contributing to a sense of normalcy.

Legacy & Commemoration

Even as New Guinsaugon grew, the old landslide site remains a place of memory:

Memorials and markers honor those who were lost.

Conversations about the disaster’s lessons continue to shape local disaster planning and community awareness.