MGB: 120 dangerous sinkholes in Baguio

 BAGUIO CITY -- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau - Cordillera Administrative Region is monitoring identified sinkholes in the region for early warning to reduce risk on people and properties.
    Almost 120 sinkholes ranging from two meters to more than 20 meters in diameters in the surface are being monitored by the MGB in Baguio City alone, MGB-CAR regional director Fay Apil reported.    
    Apil said sinkholes in Baguio City were mostly found in areas with limestones particularly in the western part of the city that includes Dontogan, Mirador, Rock Quarry, Irisan, Quezon Hill, and Quirino Hill.
    "Because of the very limited space natin dito sa Baguio City, ang ginagawa ng iba, tinatakpan nila 'yung sinkholes to build their houses on top. Nakita naman natin sa experience natin way back 1990s pa 'yan, 'yung sa Crystal Cave, 'yung nag-subside o nag-sink na bahay doon, it was built on top of a sinkhole which had been covered para magtayo ng bahay," she said.
Apil said mapping of sinkholes is one of the mandates of MGB under its geohazard program.

Results of mapping are given to concerned local government units for the creation of land use plans and for disaster risk reduction and management programs.

"We have been giving these maps to the city para rin sa (pagbibigay) nila ng building permits. And nag-a-IEC naman kami hindi lang dito sa Baguio City but also in the other parts of the Cordillera sa effects nitong mga sink holes sa kabuhayan natin," Apil said.

The Watershed and Water Resources Research Development and Extension earlier said it will sign an agreement with the MGB to assess or determine vulnerability of 14 sinkholes in Baguio City. -- PIO-Baguio