By EUGENE ADIONG
BACOLOD City — Residents of Kabankalan City, watch your step.
Eleven sinkholes were found in three sitios, or hamlets, in Oringao village in the component city.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Region 6 made the discovery after a follow-up geological mapping and assessment, including interviews with the locals.
Geologists found the sinkholes in sitios Jalandoni, Cantaghap, and Malansa, MGB regional director Leo Van Juguan said.
Seven of the 11 sinkholes have already been filled up — four in Sitio Jalandoni and three in Sitio Cantaghap — while the others remain open, an MGB report showed.
Five residents of Sitio Jalandoni fell in a sinkhole on June 26.
Juguan said the regional MGB has asked the help of its central office in Manila in studying the sinkholes in Kabankalan.
He said they have recommended actions to the city’s mayor, Isidro Zayco, and Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.
The city government must inform the residents where the sinkholes are and what risks they pose, said Juguan.
He said the sinkhole recently found in Sitio Jalandoni must be immediately backfilled, and warning signs must be installed in the area — the center of the village — and in Sitio Cantaghap.
Juguan clarified that the discovery was based on surface ocular assessment.
He said they are recommending a geophysical survey using a Ground Penetrating Radar, or GPR, to determine if there are more sinkholes that may be connected with the discovered ones or in separate locations.
The device will also allow geologists to “get more accurate and detailed information on the conditions beneath the ground,” he said./PN
