DENR Orders Closure to the Sinkhole Area in Badian

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR)7 has ordered the total closure of a sinkhole developed during the onslaught of typhoon Queenie in barangay Banhigan, muncipality of Argao.

DENR7 Information Officer Dr.Ed Llamedo during the Tapok-Tapok of Cebu Media Forum at Cebu Business Hotel along Colon Street, Cebu City said the DENR officials made the order through Badian Municipal Mayor Robert Librando after a proper inspection and investigation was conducted.

According to Llamedo the sinkhole with a total diameter of 5 meters and 10 meters deep has endangering the people considering that the area is a public pathway.

“They even ordered mayor Librando to cordon the area so that nobody will be accidentally downfall, particulary during night times”, he added.

Llamedo also said officials of Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the DENR7 who made the investigation of the sinkhole has instructed all households surrounding the area to vacate and find a safe place for them.

It was Mayor Librando who look for a safer place for the dislocated of about 10 families in his town, Llamedo said.

Llamedo explained that sinkhole is unavoidable here in Cebu province considering the fact that 60-70 per cent of Cebu’s underneath is limestone.

“Limestone usually contents carbonic acid which usually weaken through continuous rains, the reason why there are sinkholes to appear during rainy season and during earthquakes”, Llamedo stressed.

Llamedo also explained that the same incident which was happened in Kinatarkan Island , in the town of Santa Fe, Bantayan Islands on the northern part of Cebu, is now totally cordoned permanently by the local government unit there.

All households located near the 10 meter-diameter and 8 meters deep sinkhole were transferred to a safer location. Llamedo said,
Kinatarkan is a small island with more than 2,000 population whose means of livelihood of the people is fishing.

The said sinkhole in Kinatarkan was developed after typhoon Yolanda struck the northern part of Cebu province in November 8, 2013.

Asked if it is proper for the people to throw their garbage or anything to cover to the naturally developed sinkhole, Llamedo answered “no” because sinkhole has attached and connected water source underneath.

He said throwing anything particularly garbage into the sinkhole will naturally throwing something bad to the water source, which is dangerous to the people’s health.