By Leonardo V. Micua
Several unexplained whirlpools were found in the water of the Lingayen River, stirring wild speculations these are manifestations of the
presence of underwater volcano in the area.
The emergence of the whirlpools in Poblacion Lingayen, near the boundary of Barangay Baay, prompted Second District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil and Lingayen Mayor Ernesto Castaneda to rush in the area last week.
The two officials took note that there were about six whirlpools that were seen in the area, a few of them from under thatched-roof houses near the northern end of the San Jose Bridge.
They let their staff
take samples of the water which they promised to have these analyzed in the laboratory of the Bureau of Soils or the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Residents near the area, however, said the whirlpool emerged since after the a contractor of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) conducted a boring test on the soil near the San Jose Bridge.
The boring test done by the contractor involved the driving of a pipe 10 meters below obviously in preparation to the all-out repair of the San Jose bridge.
However, the people near the area believed the
whirlpool of water may not be coming from an underwater volcano since their children swimming daily in the river did not notice any lukewarm water.
