Davao de Oro gov vows to impose no-build zone policy in hazard areas

The governor of Davao de Oro has committed to implement the no-build zone policy in hazardous areas identified by Project NOAH following the fatal landslide incident in the municipality of Maco, the provincial government said Sunday.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Davao de Oro executive assistant on information and communications Edward Macapili said that the local government unit really has the obligation of implementing the no-build zone policy, considering that the entire province is considered a mining area.

“The governor really expressed that they are going to implement the no-build zone kasi ini-impose talaga ng [because it is imposed by] MGB (Mines and Geosciences Bureau). So the governor has to share with the sentiments of and the policy of the MGB that there will be a no-build zone policy,” Macapili said.

The Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) is the integrated disaster prevention and mitigation program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Among its components is to identify exact areas that are prone to landslides.

On Tuesday night, a landslide hit a garage of a bus company, barangay hall, and residential areas in Zone 1 Barangay Masara in Maco town.

Macapili earlier revealed that the landslide site has been declared a no-build zone.

He said the residents were previously relocated in a resettlement site of the mining company in Barangay Kinuban, but some of them still came back maybe out of "convenience."

“Hindi naman nagkulang si Apex Mining dahil na-implement niya lahat ng measures na required by the MGB. Actually ‘yung area na din ‘yun, part ng mining site ng Apex Mining. ‘Yung entire Barangay Masara, talagang mining site ng Apex Mining ‘yun,” he said.

(Apex Mining did not lack because it implemented all the measures required by the MGB. Actually, the landslide area is also part of Apex Mining's mining site. The entire Barangay Masara is actually a mining site of Apex Mining.)

Apex Mining Co. Inc., the company that employs the victims of a recent landslide in Davao de Oro, earlier explained that the tragedy occurred outside its operations’ premises.

Thirty-five people have been killed due to the landslide, while 77 others remain missing. —KG, GMA Integrated News