Sacks of garbage pulled from Benguet sinkhole blamed for La Trinidad floods

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Residents of this town are hoping that flooding on their streets will be reduced, if not stopped, after one of the sources of muddy floodwater rushing down from the mountains was cleared of garbage.

Authorities and volunteers retrieved 80 sacks of assorted trash from a sinkhole in Sitio Piripin Bato, La Trinidad, Benguet. The cleanup operation involved personnel from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), local volunteers, and barangay officials.

The site, located in Barangay Pico—an area frequently affected by flooding—is a known drainage point. The massive volume of waste, which was illegally dumped into the natural depression, is suspected to have clogged underground passages, preventing proper water runoff.

Local officials, including La Trinidad Mayor Roderick Awingan, have long pointed to illegal dumping and clogged waterways as major causes of the flash floods that repeatedly hit areas like Pico and the main valley. Reports indicate that during heavy downpours, muddy water and debris rush down from elevated areas such as Pico, overwhelming drainage systems and causing major roads and even the famed Strawberry Farm to flood.

The cleanup initiative followed a consultation between Awingan, concerned residents, and municipal offices to address improper waste disposal. The operation directly targets the human factor behind the flood crisis, aiming to restore a vital part of the town’s natural drainage network.

The removal of 80 sacks of trash is seen as a key step toward mitigating severe flooding that disrupts traffic, business, and agriculture in the Benguet capital.