Benguet locals fear for their safety as sinkhole threatens community

Residents of a Benguet subdivision feared for their safety and the loss of their homes as recent downpours created sinkholes in their community.

"Parang may dumadagundong kaya natatakot ako, hindi ako nakatulog," Teresita Anconsel, a resident of a subidivision in Benguet, said in a report on GMA's "24 Oras Weekend."

Her agitation was mirrored by another resident of the subdivision who said that the roads could no longer support the weight of large trucks.

"'Pag dumadaan 'yung mga truck dito o kaya 'yung mga malalaking sasakyan, yumuyogyog 'yung ilalim nito," he said.

According to another resident, they could not depend on the subdivision's developer for help.

"'Yung developer daw po nagtatago na, nag-file daw po yata, nag-declare ng bankcruptcy. Kaya hindi namin alam kung sino ang sasalo sa amin," she said.

For its part, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it would be better for the residents to leave their homes.

"'Yung lugar na 'yan is — lalong lalo na sa may basketball area — is talagang sinkhole dati 'yan na tinabunan lang," a representative of the DENR said.

Meanwhile, a similar situation had developed in another subdivision, this one in Baguio City.

According to data from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), there were 129 sinkholes in the Baguio City community. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News