Probe of Davao de Oro mining firm sought following landslide
A screengrab from AFPTV aerial video footage taken on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, shows the extent of Tuesday night’s landslide in Maco, Davao de Oro province. (File photo from Agence France-Presse)
MANILA, Philippines — An environmental group is calling for an investigation of the operations of a mining company in Davao de Oro following a landslide in a mining village in Maco town that killed at least six people and injured 31 others.
Jon Bonifacio, national coordinator of the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (KPNE), said a probe by authorities is in order as the tragedy was caused by the deadly combination of climate change impacts and irresponsible businesses.
“Once again, we’re seeing how the worsening impacts of climate change [are] intersecting with corporate negligence and impunity in the Philippines,” he said in a message to INQUIRER.net
Bonifacio stressed that officials of the mining firm operating in Maco, Apex Mining Co., should not be let off easily following the incident.
The company’s 41 employees were trapped due to the landslide, the Eastern Mindanao Command reported on Wednesday.
“We call for immediate and adequate aid for the affected families and for a swift and thorough investigation to be conducted to determine the full extent of accountability of Apex Mining [Co.], other large-scale mining operations, […] in relation to the landslide and the massive floods affecting the region,” Bonifacio added.
READ: OCD urges crackdown vs irresponsible mining after deadly Davao landslide
In a separate statement, Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP) urged the government to help the communities and families affected by the disaster.
YACAP alleged that Apex Mining Co. was involved in displacing communities in Davao to make way for their large mining operations.
For its part, Apex Mining Co. said in a previous statement that the landslide happened at a vehicle terminal for buses ferrying its employees which is outside its mine operations.
But the Office of Civil Defense recommended on Wednesday a crackdown on irresponsible mining practices in light of the tragic incident.
