The death toll from the tragic landslide that struck Barangay Masara in Maco, Davao de Oro last Feb. 6 further climbed to 55 on Monday morning, Feb. 12, as the search and rescue already included retrieval operation.
As of 7 a.m., a total of 63 persons remained missing while 32 others were injured, according to data from the Maco municipal disaster risk reduction and management office (MDRRMO).
"Since the landslide occurred until the 48-hour period, it was decided by Governor [Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga] to extend the search and rescue but yesterday [Sunday], the Incident Command Post already shifted to search, rescue and retrieval (SRR) operation," Edward Macapili, Davao de Oro executive assistant for communications and public relations, said in a radio interview over DZBB.
The Incident Command Post (ICP) has not established a timeline as to until when the SRR would be conducted since the responders were still hoping they will find survivors.
"There is no timeline. The ICP wants to continue with the rescue and retrieval to give justice to the claims of the relatives of the victims. They were complaining and asking us to continue our work since they want to find their missing relatives," Macapili noted.
Aside from the ICP which supervises the SRR operation, the local government of Davao de Oro has also established a team for the management of the dead which caters to queries regarding the identities of the cadavers.
However, some of the bodies that were retrieved are already beyond recognition as several days have passed since the landslide.
A counseling area was also built to address the needs of traumatized children and adults as well as a resource center in the adjacent town of Mawab where all the donated relief goods will be stored.
Relief efforts in full swing
Relief assistance from the national government were being transported non-stop to Davao de Oro to sustain the daily needs of 5,290 individuals or 1,559 families that were displaced due to the incident.
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Chairman Gilberto Teodoro Jr. directed the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to ensure that relief efforts are in full swing for those affected by the landslide in Davao de Oro and the widespread flooding in other areas in Mindanao.
"Aside from Davao Region, Caraga is also affected by the northeast monsoon and trough of an LPA [low pressure area]. Relief efforts in various provinces are ongoing," OCD Administrator, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said.
"We will continuously attend to their needs. Upon the instructions of DND Secretary and NDRRMC Chairman Gilberto Teodoro Jr., the OCD is constantly monitoring everything relative to the impacts of these weather disturbances, especially the response operations," he added.
Aid from US military
To ensure the rapid delivery of relief aid to the landslide victims, the United States Marine Corps also deployed its two KC-130J Hercules aircraft to help the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) efforts in Davao de Oro.
Col. Xerxes Trinidad, chief of Armed Forces of the Philippines-Public Affairs Office (AFP-PAO), said the plan was to conduct four deliveries daily (two per plane) to maintain a steady supply of relief aid to the affected areas.
The two USMC KC-130 aircraft were stationed at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City while waiting for the processing, weighing and loading of supplies that were scheduled for transport on Monday.
Personnel from the US Marines' III Marine Expeditionary Force will assist with the ongoing disaster relief mission while troops from the Marine Air Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing will deliver the essential supplies for distribution.
"The joint effort highlights the shared commitment of the two countries to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as also emphasized in the recently concluded US-PH Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA)," Trinidad said.