DAVAO CITY – Apex Mining Co. Inc. welcomes the proposed congressional inquiry into the massive landslide in Barangay Masara in Maco, Davao de Oro.

“If this inquiry will help Maco then we welcome it,” Teresa Pacis, AMCI assistant vice president for corporate affairs and communication, said. “Maco has been our home for more than 50 years now and we have been through many ups and downs.”

RESPONDERS continue search and retrieval operations at the landslide site in Barangay Masara, Maco, Davao de Oro. (Contributed photo)

Since the landslide last week, Pacis said they have been on limited operations as they have been helping the local government with clearing operations and repair of critical infrastructure like roads and bridges.

Pacis added: “Workers are currently focused on helping the barangay overcome the challenges brought about by this landslide.”

House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo filed House Resolution 1586 on February 13 urging the appropriate committee to investigate the incident as well as review the existing laws regulated by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“Despite the implementation of the no-build zone policy, numerous residential structures and establishments were erected within the prohibited area, contributing to the heightened risk and severity of the landslide incident,” Tulfo said.

Aside from Tulfo, authors of the resolution were Davao de Oro Rep. Peter Gonzaga, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, Quezon City Rep. Ralph Tulfo, and ACT-CIS party-list Reps. Edvic Yap and Jocelyn Tulfo.

The MGB-Davao said that Masara had been declared a no-build zone following a landslide in 2008 that killed 24 people.

AMCI distributes food aid to displaced residents in Maco, Davao de Oro. (AMCI)

Davao de Oro Vice Gov. Jayvee Tryon Uy also welcomed the inquiry to determine if there are persons or agencies liable in the incident.

Even as it appears that landslide took place inside the AMCI tenement, Uy cannot say yet if the firm has a liability in the incident.

Pacis had earlier confirmed that the landslide site is inside its mining tenement but outside of its active mining site.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Office of Maco reported that 90 bodies have been retrieved as of 12 noon on Thursday, February 15, from the landslide.

Search and retrieval operations continue to locate over 37 others who are reported missing in the nine-hectare landslide site.

MDRRMO Maco also reported that at least 55 houses have been buried in the soil and debris with an equivalent height of over three-story building.

Ups and downs

According to a document obtained from firm’s website, AMCI underwent several ups and downs since it acquired the mining area from Samar Mining Co. (SAMICO), a subsidiary of Elizalde and Co., in 1973.

Prior to acquisition from SAMICO, Elizalde and Co. entered into an mines operating agreement with INCO Mines.

INCO, however, had to suspend operations indefinitely in the aftermath of a devastating landslide in Masara in 1971.

In 1974, AMCI closed its copper mining operations due to the price collapse in the world market and decided to focus its activities on gold exploration and development in Masara. Gold mining operations thrived until 1989, the document added.

It noted that AMCI had to suspend operations due to weak gold prices in 1990 and 2000.

“Mining operations at Masara were suspended in the face of weak gold prices combined with prolonged labor conflict. Residents began small-scale mining of high-grade sections of the underground workings. Apex leased various parts of the property to small scale sub-contractors in exchange for royalties and rental payments,” the history timeline dated 1990 said.

The document bared that AMCI had entered into agreement with other mining firms to develop the mine site.

In 2013, an all-Filipino board of directors was elected and new management team was organized to ensure effective supervision.

Currently, AMCI, a publicly-listed firm, is controlled by billionaire businessman Enrique K. Razon Jr. with Luis Sarmiento as president.

Pacis said that they have established a welfare desk helpline stationed at the Nuevo Iloco National High School in Mawab, Davao de Oro, and will continue to provide assistance to affected residents by helping them get information on their missing loved ones.

She added that they organized a medical mission in all evacuation centers in Maco and Mawab from February 12 to 16.

“The Hiraya-Diwa Pychological Services in partnership with the Tagum Doctors College will also provide debriefing and counseling services to the community residents on February 24 and 25.”