No ‘critical hole’in Balili lot

CEBU, Philippines - The committee on environment of the Cebu Provincial Board has found no “critical hole” in the filled up pond of the controversial Balili property in Barangay Tinaan, Naga City.

Board Member Thadeo Ouano who chairs the committee led the ocular inspection yesterday after he was tasked to do it following the report of Board Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy.

Ouano was accompanied by some members of the media, a representative from the office of PB Member Wilfredo Caminero who is a committee member and the staff of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO).

A representative from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau 7 who has the expertise to determine the cause of sinkholes and similar geologic holes was also invited but failed to come.

Engr. Roy Cabunilas, zoning officer II of PENRO toured Ouano and company to the portion where there is hole, which was believed to be the one that Sitoy mentioned in his report.

It was found that the hole is a water way from the pond going to the sea, which according to Ouano, is normal for a fishpond.

“There’s no existing critical buslot (hole),” Ouano said.

In the past PB session, Sitoy brought up the matter after some members of the media reported to him that a hole as big as a six-year old child is visible in the restored or reclaimed area of Balili property.

Sitoy may have misunderstood the report of the media about holes of the 6,400 square meters of high-density polyethylene liner (HDPE) placed in a pond worth P1.7 million but is not being used.

The lining is supposed to seal off and prevents coal ash from seeping to the ground and nearby swamp had the dumping pushed through.

Provincial Planning and Development Officer Engr. Adolfo Quiroga earlier denied the report saying the HDPE could still be used.

Ouano inspected the portion covered with the liner but found nothing except water.

“Nothing to be scared of on any apprehension nga dunay chemicals or whatsoever. In the first place, wa labayi (coal ash),” Ouano said.

Ouano said that the lining could be critical if it was used for the dumping of coal ash.

He said that based on what he learned from an expert, the lining should not be less than five centimeters thick and must be filled up with sand and gravel before dumping the coal ash.

The lining has .75 millimeter thickness.

Ouano said that what he has conducted was just a factual inquiry and he will report his findings in their next PB session.  (FREEMAN)