The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) XI announced the community affected by the landslide in Masara, Maco earlier this month is now in an early recovery stage.
OCD XI regional director Ednar Dayanghirang said the office is currently monitoring the next steps of the local government unit.
Relocation and housing for the residents affected is being prioritized in talks with the LGU, Dayanghirang said during the flag raising ceremony, Davao city hall grounds, Feb. 26.
“Atong i-coordinate with Department of Housing kung posible ba kadto ilang design [vertical housing] ug dili lang balay kundi apil na ang commercial area i-develop,” he added.
Although a temporary relocation site was already erected, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) is undergoing assessment for a permanent site.
Shelter tents are currently placed in an area in Barangay Elizalde Quasi Parish to temporarily accommodate displaced families affected by the landslide.
Ground zero will not be enclosed, however the OCD XI will coordinate with the local government unit to establish a marker around it.
The official clarified that the barangay will not be removed from the map and will still be there, however it will be considered inhabitable and the community will be transferred.
When asked on the liability of the APEX mining company, he said it is up to the MGB for holding them liable and be given a penalty for tolerating the habitation of residents.
“Under sila [mining company] sa tenement, dapat sila mismo nagsulti nga dapat dili, pero sila man mismo nagbutang og terminal, bus station so sila mismo nag tolerate sa mga tao,” he said.
Maco Municipal Mayor Arthur Carlos Rimando signed Executive Order 17 on Feb. 22 directing the pull out of all rescuers and assets as per the recommendation of the incident management team.
As of February 22, 93 bodies have been retrieved, and nine are still missing. The Management of the Dead and Missing cluster is dependent on the cross matching of DNA samples of the unidentified bodies if it matches any of the missing individuals.
