Equipment for sinkhole assessment arrives

CEBU, Philippines - After the antenna for the ground penetrating radar (GPR) arrived last Thursday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will review its plan on the towns that need to be assessed for the presence of sinkholes.

“What we will do now is to review our priority plan on the list of towns to be assessed on sinkholes. We will come up with a revised plan,” said DENR–7 spokesman Eddie Llamedo.

 The GPR, which would be utilized for the thorough assessment of the reported sinkholes in Central Visayas, previously arrived last January 5.

 Llamedo pointed out earlier that the equipment would help geologists conducting comprehensive verification or assessment of the sinkholes as it captures certain images on the diameter of the sinkholes.

 “While, the antenna is important as it captures signal for better reading or image appreciation,” Llamedo said.

 He said assessment will begin once the equipment is tested.

 “We still have to hold a test or examine the GPR before we shall deploy it into the field,” he said.

 The equipment may be deployed either at the end of the month or early next month.

 “We made a review of the priority plan because of the voluminous requests (from local government units) that we receive,” he said.

 The sinkholes in Cebu, as Llamedo identified earlier, are in Moalboal, Badian, Alcantara, Argao, and Kinatarcan islet in Sta. Fe.

 He affirmed earlier that the GPR was provided by DENR central office and will also be used to examine at least 800 sinkholes in Bohol, which was hit badly by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in 2013.

 The series of earthquakes and typhoons that battered Central Visayas reportedly caused the formation of new sinkholes that was why Region 7 was prioritized as far as purchase of the equipment is concerned.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 chief geologist Al Emil Berador and senior geologist Josephine Aleta, both skilled in operating the GPR, will lead the inspection team. —JMO (FREEMAN)