Baguio City — The controversy over the cause of the rapid sinking of a wide tract of land in Mankayan town, Benguet could be resolved by creating an independent team that would be tasked to look into the problem.

This was the position taken by Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Joselito Atienza Jr. who said his office supports the move to commission an independent investigating team tht would be composed of representatives of various sectors.

The task of the team would be to determine the cause of the rapid sinking of a big area on Aurora St., Mankayan. The subsidence has been going on in the past several years, causing fears among the residents.

Ateinza said the conflicting reports of several teams that investigated the problem in the past have triggered confusion and misunderstanding among the various sectors in the province.

While the Cordillera Mines and Geosciences (MGB) had recommended that a 10-hectare area in the poblacion be declared a danger zone to prevent habitation, the DENR secretary said that the best way to counter the misinformation on the problem is the creation of an independent team of experts who would look into it and make recommendations.

Atienza said the national government will provide the support needed by the investigating team.

This is intended to stop the mudslinging among the concerned residents, the affected mining firm, militant groups, and the local officials, he said.

Earlier, the provincial government of Benguet approved a proposal for the creation of an independent investigating team tasked to conduct a final study on the cause of the sinking problem.

The independent team will be composed of experts from Lepanto Conslidated Mining Co., MGB, municipal government of Mankayan, provincial government of Benguet, and non-governmental organizations.

While Lepanto had agreed to shoulder half of the expenses for the conduct of the independent study, it declared that all sectors concerned would be obligated to respect the recommendations and findings of the team.

This would clear the way for the adoption of remedial measures such as the relocation of the residents who are to be displaced by the subsidence.

Mankayan officials had strongly denounced MGB for its alleged failure to address the worsening sinking problem on Aurora St., saying the bureau failed to come out with the recommendations intended to address the problem.