THE backfilling of a sinkhole in Virac, Itogon, Benguet may take a backseat after several houses near the edges started to became a threat to workers in the area.
Provincial engineer Rene Tabdi said the rehabilitation will have to be delayed until prior notice as two houses near the edges started to show signs of collapsing into the 20-meter-wide pit anew.
“All we can do is wait and let nature take its course,” Tabdi said, adding the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) has refused to knock down the structures as requested by the barangay officials in consideration to its owners.
“Hayaan na lang muna natin, mahirap na kasi we know this is very hard for the owners of the houses especially there is no solution to possibly salvage their property,” he added.
Earlier the PEO has reported the plugging of the void has nearly been completed after some 2,000 cubic meters of river silt, soil, and rocks has been used to patch it up.
“The sinkhole has already been filled, we are just waiting for the backfill to settle naturally for further developments,” said Tabdi after explaining the mixed soil-silt-rock fill up be the primary project prior to the construction of gabion walls to support the reconstruction of the damaged road.
The PEO 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 and swallowed at least seven houses in November last year.
While delays were already anticipated prior to the rehabilitation, Tabdi said their office will still try to complete the project in the first quarter next year.
The two-phased project has been allotted P4.8 million, P3 million for the construction of gabion walls while the release of the additional P1.8 is still awaiting approval.
Moreover, 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.
Benguet has earlier declared as danger zones the sub-villages of Kamangaan and Upper Batuang in Barangay Virac and have asked 43 families to transfer in relocation areas provided by the provincial government and the mining company.