CEBU, Philippines - The water is back, but not yet the tourists.
Sundays at Mantayupan Falls in Barili used to be very busy, but yesterday was different.
By noon yesterday, Marcosa Bayadog of the Campangga Alayon Multi-Purpose Cooperative said that only 50 visitors have come from the usual average 500 during weekends.
Bayadog said that not everyone knows yet that water has started flowing back at the Mantayupan Falls since Saturday.
“Gikan sa upat ka adlaw nga wala’y agas, nabalik na gyud. Nagtinabangay man gyud ang mga tawo nga alihan ang sinkhole para muagas balik diri ang tubig,” (After four days that there was no water, it is back. The people helped out to block the sinkhole so the water would flow again), Bayadog said.
The falls dried up last Tuesday affecting not only tourism, but also the rice fields, fish ponds and the mini hydro-electric power plant in the area.
Sinkhole
Residents say that the sinkhole drained off the water in the river that feeds the waterfalls.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-7) said that there might be an underground cavern below the river.
Barili town officials, as advised by MGB-7, have created a man-made canal to divert the flow of water away from the sinkhole.
A 40-meter diversion canal was excavated to detour the water. They started the excavation work last Saturday.
“Ang mga taga-humayan gyud ang nangusog didto na maalihan ang sinkhole kay apektado ang humayan kung magpadayon nga wala’y tubig muadto sa irrigation.” (The people from the rice fields were the ones who really worked hard to block the sinkhole because they are most affected), Bayadog said.
Loss of income
The mini-hydro plant has not also been operating for several days, which also means a loss of income for the cooperative.
The hydro plant supplies almost one megawatt of electricity to a local utility company.
When the falls ran dry, the coop refrained from collecting entrance fees.
“Alkansi sad gyud kaayo mi. Wala mi’y koleksyon sa pipila ka adlaw.” (We are losing money as we have no collection for days now), Bayadog said.
She said that the public is not aware yet that Mantayupan Falls has water again.
“Basin muhina-hinay na sad og kadaghan ang mubisita kung makahibaw na sila nga nabalik na ang tubig.” (Hopefully people would be coming back now that the water is back), Bayadog said.
Temporary solution
The detour is only a temporary solution.
Barili Mayor Teresito Mariñas earlier said that once they have completed the diversion canal, the sinkhole will be sealed with cement as a permanent solution.
Vice Mayor Marlon Garcia said that re-routing the flow of the river will only serve as a temporary solution and will not eradicate the problem.
He said that the municipal government should start with the source of the problem.
He asked why the cemented cover of the sinkhole, which was already there after the war, has been destroyed.
He insisted that quarrying triggered the river bed to collapse.
“I would like to ask the owner of the resort himself what is their main purpose in conducting an activity there. I’m inviting him to attend the session next Wednesday,” he said.
— /NLQ (FREEMAN)