In World War 2 ,Toledo City west of Cebu City was a battle ground with the Japanese invasion the area was turned into a bloodbath. There is now a place called “Magdugo” which means Bleeding. To defend this Town the US constructed fortifications like bunkers and Barriers. This is a line of tank barriers that still exist in Barangay Carmen beside the Hinulawan River. These were built by the United States of America Forces In the Far East (USAFFE) who were organized to prepare the Philippines for war. The date of the tank barriers is up for debate but the most likely date of construction is a few months before World War 2. The only reason these defenses survived was because of the topography of the area. These are the World War 2 Tank Barriers of Toledo.
The area is surrounding and was very hard to travel to.it was a valley with these giant concrete emplacements with pyramid tops. They are about 4 to 5 feet tall with some as tall as 6 feet. These barriers were never used as the main Breakthrough of Japanese forces was in Barangay Ilihan to the East. The Japanese broke through the line in between Ilihan hill and Barangay Carmen in the Magdugo Plain, there heavy fighting took place, but ended in USAFFE retreat. The condition of these structures is actually quite alright. Aside from some of them getting eaten by a small creek and some being vandalized and a few more having been carved out to place things, almost all of these Barriers are in perfect condition.
The roads going to them are not maintained and we had to ask locals the location of them several tines but in the end it was a great site to take pictures at. Many of them were most likely constructed Pre World War the Structures stretched for about 200 Meters ending with hills on both sides there is believed to be a American Headquarters further down the Road heading to these Barriers. But unfortunately we never got to see it as the road became to Bumpy. Though leading to them was a terribly maintained road they are still a great site to see and you should definitely go there is you want to take a picture with the 60+ bastions that have been standing for more than 75 Years…
