DAVAO CITY – Apex Mining Co. Inc. has vowed to help relocate displaced residents following the landslide that devastated Barangay Masara, Maco, Davao de Oro on February 6.

Teresa Pacis, AMCI assistant vice president for corporate affairs and communication, said they have offered their two-hectare property in Barangay Malamodao, Maco as relocation site.  

PREPARATIONS are under way in the temporary relocation site owned by the Diocese of Tagum in Barangay Elizalde,  Maco, Davao de Oro. (PIO Davao de Oro)

Pacis said the land is being assessed by the local government and concerned agencies.

“Right now, they are vetting if our property in Malamodao will be an appropriate area as a tent city that will serve as a temporary relocation area,” Pacis said.

She said that the property is outside of its mining contract area.

Aside from offering the firm's property as temporary relocation site, Pacis said they are willing to assist in other relocation initiatives of affected communities.

But she cannot yet provide further details. 

A massive landslide swathed Zone 1 of Barangay Masara on February 6 and left 98 people dead and eight others remain missing as of 7 p.m. on February 18.

According to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) of Maco, almost 5,000 individuals are living in 10 evacuation centers in Mawab, Davao de Oro.

Nearby barangays of Masara were forced to evacuate due to threat of further landslides.  

Aside from Barangay Malamodao, the provincial government is now preparing the half-hectare property of the Diocese of Tagum in Barangay Elizalde, Maco.

Displaced residents have to be moved to temporary relocation sites as schools that serve as evacuation centers will resume regular classes soon.

Citing a Department of Education policy, Davao de Oro Gov. Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga said that school facilities may be used as emergency evacuation sites for a maximum of 15 days.

Gonzaga was referring to the DepEd Order No. 37, Series of 2022, that provides guidelines on the cancellation or suspension of classes and work in schools in the event of natural disasters, power outages or interruptions, and other calamities.

Last week, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Joseph Randy Loy said that the Mines and Geoscience Bureau (MGB) has cleared and given a go-signal for the Diocese of Tagum property as a temporary relocation site.

In a press conference on February 19, MGB-Davao said that they are still conducting assessments in possible relocation sites.

Limited operations

AMCI admitted that they are still operating on a limited capacity due to limited access at the mining site.

“Personnel from safety, security, community relations, and general services, and geologists and heavy equipment machine operators were deployed and continue to assist in the search, retrieval, rescue, and relief operations,” AMCI wrote on its disclosure report to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

It added that milling activities were reduced by 50 to 80 percent since February 7.

Shipment and sale of metal products produced in January were completed before the landslide occurred, AMCI said.

However, the firm expects a lower volume of gold and silver ounces produced and sold in the following shipment due to the limited operations.

“Strategies will be implemented to address production gaps once the rescue, retrieval, and clearing operations have been completed.”