MANILA, Philippines – A portion of Sales Road in Pasay City was closed off to traffic as authorities drain and repair a deep, water-filled hole in the road.

As of Monday morning, April 15, both lanes of the east-bound side of Sales Road near Villamor Air Base Gate 3 remained cordoned off, with counterflow measures in place. The portion of Sales Road near the military base is among the at-grade routes to and from NAIA Terminal 3.

Photos of the damage – discovered only on Sunday, April 14 – show a hole several meters wide. A team from the Department of Works and Highways (DPWH) and water provider Maynilad said that the leak came from a secondary pipeline at the opposite side of the eastbound lane where the sinkhole is.

The DPWH is currently completing the concrete encasement, backfilling, and concreting of the road, which will be reopened to traffic by April 17, 4 pm.

MMDA head Don Artes said on Monday, April 15, that a team from the DPWH, water provider Maynilad, and San Miguel’s nearby Skyway were still looking for the source of the water leak that caused the hole to form before the road could be fully repaired.

“Hindi po natin alam ‘yung extent pa ng damage doon sa nasabing kalsada, at hinahanap pa ‘yung source ng tubig para ma-plug ‘yung leak bago ito matabunan, masementohan, at madaanan ng ating mga kababayan,” Artes said.

(We don’t know yet the extent of the damage in the road, and we’re still looking for the source of the water so that the leak can be plugged before we cover it, cement it, and allow our countrymen to start passing there again.)

Skyway personnel are also inspecting the area for possible damage since the elevated expressway passes directly overhead and has several columns along the road.

“Marami pong poste ng Skyway ang nandiyan, so kailangan din pong tignan kung naaapektuhan ‘yung integrity ng mga poste po ng Skyway,” Artes said.

(There are many Skyway posts there, so they also have to check if the integrity of the Skyway’s posts were affected.)

The MMDA said that as of now, the Skyway was still deemed safe for motorists to use. – Rappler.com