Toboso: The Negros Occidental Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) has advised residents of Barangay General Luna in Toboso town to stay alert after more ground depressions were observed in its two communities.
According to Philippines News Agency, new ground cracks were identified in Sitio Bugho and Sitio Bairan during the follow-up joint assessment on March 10 and 11. This assessment was conducted by the PEMO-One Stop Shop Technical Team in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Negros Island Region (MGB-NIR), Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
In a public advisory issued on Thursday, residents were urged to "remain vigilant and immediately report any unusual ground cracks, soil movement, or similar observations to barangay officials or local authorities." The advisory emphasized the significance of community awareness and prompt reporting to ensure safety.
The assessment revealed not only new ground cracks but also that "several cracks during assessments were observed to have widened further, indicating ongoing ground movement in certain areas." This ongoing situation suggests potential risks to the nearby residential areas.
The technical team mentioned that "the final findings and official geohazard assessment will be released by the MGB," highlighting the need for further investigation to understand the full extent of the geohazard.
Following an initial assessment on February 18, the PEMO One Stop Shop Division reported that "due to proximity to residential areas, the hazard level is provisionally assessed as high, pending detailed subsurface and geophysical investigation by MGB-NIR." This provisional assessment underscores the urgency for detailed studies to mitigate risks effectively.
In Sitio Bairan, the observed ground subsidence was found approximately 80 meters from the nearest houses, which are occupied by five households. Meanwhile, in Sitio Bugho, a ground collapse was observed around 40 meters from the nearest residential area, affecting 15 households.
Surface observations suggested that "the formations are initially interpreted as possibly karst-related ground subsidence," indicating a geological complexity that requires comprehensive analysis to address potential hazards effectively.
