Sinkholes seen in Benguet subdivision, residents told to relocate

Eight sinkholes were found inside a subdivision in Tuba, Benguet, according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

According to James Agustin's report on "24 Oras", residents of Marville Subdivision were warned by authorities to relocate as cracks have started to appear in some houses.

"'Yung araw na lumilipas mas lalo po siyang lumalaki ganun po. Dahan-dahan po siya bumibitak. Hindi na kami makatulog sa gabi, konting ulan lang parang gusto mo na umalis pero saan naman kami pupunta kung aalis kami?" resident Jazel Vallejos said.

Some tilting houses and deformed roads inside the subdivision have already been abandoned and closed.

According to the MGB, the subdivision was built in the 1990s when geohazard reports were not yet required to get an environmental compliance certificate.

It added that the developer probably just filled the sinkholes with soil.

The largest sinkhole inside the subdivision, having a 25-meter diameter, has been converted into a basketball court.

"'Yung mga lugar na nakita natin na may manifestation ng sinkholes is talagang recommended na total na relocation po sila," said geologist Benigno Cesar Espejo from MGB-Cordillera Administrative Region.

The residents were worried because they can no longer reach the developer of the subdivision.

The Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) said it was willing to assist the affected residents who are currently paying their housing amortizations through the state-run agency.

“We can offer po 'yung amin pong mga acquired assets na may same value pero dapat po magugustuhan din po nila. We can give a list, ito po 'yung mga bahay na pwede niyong lipatan pili na lang po kayo," said lawyer Karin-Lei Franco-Garcia, Vice President of Pag-IBIG Public Relations and Information Services.

Meanwhile, the MGB also spotted sinkholes in other parts of the limestone-rich Benguet province.

Baguio City has 129 sinkholes while La Trinidad has 41. —Dona Magsino/NB, GMA News