BENGUET is hoping to finish the filling up of a sinkhole and the destroyed portion of the Batuang Road in Barangay Virac, Itogon, first quarter next year.
During Monday’s Provincial Board session, provincial engineer Rene Tabdi reported the backfilling and the construction of gabion walls for the reconstruction of the damaged national road in the municipality will be fast-tracked especially now that the onset of the rainy season already started.
Tabdi said the backfilling for the 20-meter-wide sinkhole is nearly complete.
Earlier reports revealed that the sinkhole, which swallowed at least seven houses in November last year, has been patched up with 2,000 cubic meters of river soil and silt.
“So far, the sinkhole has already been filled. We are just waiting for the backfill to settle naturally for the further developments needed,” said Tabdi, adding that the construction of gabion walls will support the reconstruction of the damaged road.
Tabdi said Benguet Corporation has voluntarily facilitated the backfill project, as they sought immediate action for the damage caused by some of their tunnels, which collapsed due to the result of a "pipping gully," an incident when rainwater penetrates natural ground openings and man-made tunnels.
The two-phased project has been allotted with P4.8 million, P3 million for the construction of gabion walls, while the release of the additional P1.8 is awaited.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Engineering Office said an additional P2 million was agreed between the Province and SN Aboitiz Power for the repairs and improvement of the Baguio-Kias-Padcal- Provincial Road.
Itogon classified the sub-vilages of Kamangaan and Upper Batuang in Barangay Virac as danger zones, and has urged 43 families to transfer in relocation areas.
Monitoring is still ongoing as two more houses were seen to also collapse as they hang over the edge of the sinkhole.