A personnel from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority inspects a sinkhole that forms in the middle of Sales Road near the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Sunday afternoon, April 14, 2024. Photo from the MMDA
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it is assessing if the 鈥渟inkhole鈥� that formed in the middle of Sales Road near the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City has affected 鈥渢he integrity鈥� of Skyway鈥檚 foundation.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said investigations are still ongoing to determine the source of water before the 鈥渟inkhole鈥� gets plugged and cemented.
MMDA on Sunday said it spotted a 鈥渟inkhole鈥� in the middle of the road near Gate 3 of Villamor Air Base. As a result, motorists were advised to take alternative routes and avoid the area.
鈥淵an naman po ay pinagtutulong-tulungan, hindi lamang po ng Maynilad at 鈥榶ung service provider po na tumitingin kung sa tubo ng tubig nila nanggagaling ang tubig,鈥� said Artes.
(That鈥檚 what we are assessing. Not only Maynilad and the service provider checking if their pipe is the source of the leak.)
鈥淢eron din po ang [Department of Public Works and Highways] at yung Skyway kasi kung makikita po natin doon sa pictures, marami pong poste ng Skyway ang nandyan so kailangan din pong tingnan kung naaapektuhan ang intengrity nitong聽 mga poste ng Skyway,鈥� he added.
(DPWH and Skyway also have it because as we鈥檝e seen in the pictures, Skyway has many posts in the area so we also have to check if the sinkhole has affected the integrity of Skyway posts.)
He, however, assured that the Skyway is still 鈥渟afe.鈥�
鈥淵un lamang po kanila pong ia-assess ito during the day kung ano pong epekto nitong sinkhole na ito at ano po ang extent ng damage,鈥� he emphasized.
(We are only assessing during the day what the sinkhole鈥檚 effect is and what the extent of the damage is.)
MMDA has yet to categorically identity the cause of the 鈥渟inkhole,鈥� but according to the US Geological Survey, sinkholes happen due to 鈥渄issolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum 鈥� when acidic water from rain and groundwater interacts with these rocks.鈥�
Meanwhile, Senator Ramon 鈥淏ong鈥� Revilla, head of the chamber鈥檚 panel on public works, said Maynilad Water Services Inc. as well as its constructors must be penalized over the sinkhole that formed along Sales Road.