Davao de Oro LGU says landslide site a no-build zone

The landslide site in Barangay Masara, Maco, Davao de Oro has earlier been declared a "no-build zone" by the local government, according to a "24 Oras" report by Jandi Esteban.

“Meron ng policy na ‘No Build Zone’ sa area. Ang mga tao d'yan pina-relocate sila sa may resettlement site ng APEX Mining at Barangay Kinuban in Maco, pero sa katigasan ng ulo ng mga tao bumalik sila roon," said Edward Macapili, the province's executive assistant.

The death toll in the landslide earlier this week has reached 27, as of Friday night.

According to John Calonia's report on Super Radyo dzBB, the provincial government and the Maco Municipal Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office said at least 32 persons were injured and 89 individuals are still missing as of 6 p.m. on February 9.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-Region 11 conducted an aerial inspection of the landslide site to see the extent of damage.

The bureau said the soil in the area was weak and lies along the Philippine fault.

“Yung area po nayun ay nasa Philippine Fault, yung Philippine Fault Zone po kasi galing pa po sa Luzon ang segment sa Mindanao nag-transect sa Masara area. Sa tectonic setting niya pa lang, weak na po talaga siya malakas ang ulan which is triggering factor and ang terrain is steep kaya gano'n kadelikado ang Masara line in terms of landslide," Capter Tubo, MGB-11 chief geologist.

In 2007, a landslide occurred in the same area, followed by another one in 2008.

A geohazard mapping that was conducted in the area in 2011 and 2014 showed that the area could be prone to landslide.

‘’We recommended for the relocation of Barangay Masara. In 2018, nagkaroon tayo ng another updating. Meron po tayong vulnerability and risk assessment. Ang Masara landslide po is already delineated and identified.," Tubo said.

The MGB official said the results of their studies have been communicated to the local government unit so it can take action.

"I think they are aware kasi po ang mga reports namin ay ineendorse namin sa local government units especially the municipal risk reduction and management offices," he said.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said relocating an entire village was not an easy task.

Residents who will be transferred to another barangay need livelihood, homes, and infrastructure to survive in their new environment, OCD spokesperson Edgard Posadas said.

"Tulad ng relocation sa tTacloban, inilipat sa ibang parte ang mga mangingisda sa bundok na walang alternative livelhood, kulang sa pasilidad at malaking hamon ang pananatili doon. Kailangan maging sustainable ang relocation sites at programang nagpapatupad nito," he said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said it continues to investigate the incident to see if there are other active landslides. —Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News