By CESAR JOLITO III

A ground movement at Barangay General Luna in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town has stopped, according to local disaster officials, even as authorities continue to monitor a separate area showing similar soil subsidence nearby.

Engineer Hospicio Carbajosa Jr., officer of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), said the total recorded ground movement in Sitio Bairan reached 11 feet and five inches, based on measurements taken since February 18.

As of the latest inspection, no additional movement has been observed.

However, Carbajosa noted that surface cracks in the affected area appear wider, with visible signs of soil erosion.

He added that the recent halt in rainfall may have contributed to the stabilization of the ground.

The local government is coordinating with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), which is expected to return in the second week of March with specialized equipment to determine the exact cause of the ground movement.

Meanwhile, another site of concern has been identified in Sitio Bugho, located about three kilometers from Sitio Bairan.

The area has also experienced ground subsidence, which MGB previously inspected after residents reported land movement.

Initial findings indicate a circular depression with an estimated 90-meter diameter.

According to Carbajosa, the subsidence in Sitio Bugho measures about one foot deep and has been initially classified by MGB as a cover-collapse type sinkhole.

Monitoring is ongoing to assess potential risks.

Residents in Sitio Bugho reportedly first noticed minor ground movement and small cracks following Typhoon “Tino,” which worsened during periods of heavy rainfall between February 8 and 10./CJ, WDJ