Thursday, March 27, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Scientific study shows that Metro Manila is sinking due to a phenomenon that is called "ground subsidence" brought about by the drying up of underground water.
Aside from Metro Manila, five other cities may face the same problem if they do not come up with a viable water management plans in the near future. These are the cities of Cebu, Davao, Angeles, Baguio, and Iloilo.
Manila Observatory executive director Toni Yulo Loyzaga, in a lecture during the Disaster Risk Reduction Reporting seminar in Iloilo City Tuesday, said the flooding being experienced in Metro Manila is not just caused by the rising of sea level brought about by global warming, but also because the Metro Manila ground is sinking.
Loyzaga said many scientists have made the warning on ground subsidence several years ago but not many of the local government units heeded the warning.
In Davao City, Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau Southern Mindanao chief Edilberto Arreza denied there is ground subsidence in Davao City. He said their terrain analysis showed that such a phenomenon is not yet happening in the city.
In a telephone interview, Davao City Water District (DCWD) board of director head Ed Bangayan also assured that the underground water would not be depleted in Davao City since they have long been seeking other water sources aside from the underground aquifer.
Underground water holds up the surface of the ground. When this is sucked dry, a void is left, leading to the collapse of the soil around it.
The National Water Regulatory Board reportedly conducted a groundwater assessment in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu, and it was confirmed that the groundwater supply in both areas is already critical due to unabated extraction and proliferation of illegal wells. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
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