Sinkhole assessments in CV start this month

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources will be conducting thorough assessments of newly-developed sinkholes in Central Visayas starting this month after the ground penetrating radar arrived last week.

“The equipment arrived January 5, including geo-resistivity for ground water assessment. For GPR, we are awaiting for the antenna to be available within this week. We’ll use the GPR in the assessment of reported sinkholes here in Cebu namely Moalboal, Badian, Alcantara, Argao, and Kinatarcan islet in Sta. Fe. We’ll be using the GPR to study the more than 800 sinkholes in Bohol after the quake,” according to DENR-7 spokesperson Eddie Llamedo.

The P2.4 million worth GPR was provided by DENR central office following the recent string of calamities that hit Central Visayas such as the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Bohol in 2013 and tropical cyclone Seniang shortly before New Year this year.

The disasters reportedly caused the formation of the new sinkholes which was why Region-7 was prioritized in the purchase of GPR.

“The GPR will aid our geologists in conducting a thorough and comprehensive verification or assessment of sinkholes as it captures certain images on the diameter of the sinkholes,” Llamedo pointed out.

The Cebu sinkhole assessment will commence this month and will likely be finished by February. Consequently, assessments will follow in Bohol.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 chief geologist Al Emil Berador and senior geologist Josephine Aleta, both trained in handling GPR, will lead the sinkhole assessment team.  (FREEMAN)