Police officers carry a body bag as search and rescue operations continue in the landslide-hit village of Masara, Maco, Davao de Oro, Philippines, February 8, 2024. REUTERS/Mark Navales
MANILA, Philippines — The mining company at the center of a landslide in Maco town, Davao de Oro province has vowed to provide assistance and fully cooperate with authorities.
Apex Mining Co. Inc. said Saturday that search and rescue operations continue in coordination with the government and other volunteers from the industry.
“The company is deeply saddened by this tragedy and we can only imagine the pain that the families of the missing and the dead are going through,” Luis Sarmiento, President and CEO of Apex Mining, said in a statement.
READ: Davao de Oro town landslide due to natural causes, says MGB exec
According to Sarmiento, Apex Mining is currently focusing its manpower and resources on fully supporting the provincial government with its relief operations. He said that they have been providing food packs, drinking water, and medical services to the affected communities.
He added that Apex Mining started the discussion with the Department of Social Welfare and Development regarding the possible deployment of experts to handle psycho-social trauma through counseling to those who need it.
The company likewise reported that all of its transport services have been accounted for, as one bus safely arrived at its destination in Mawab town while the three buses and one jeepney were found at the landslide ground zero.
READ: DENR not halting Apex, says landslide outside mining area
The February 6 landslide, which left 27 people dead and scores missing, included Apex Mining employees. The company maintained that the landslide happened outside its mining area.
Based on the latest update of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council released Saturday, 151 people were listed as casualties of the tragedy as of February 9. They included the 27 people who died, the 35 injured, and the 89 missing. The agency, however, clarified that all these are still being validated.
READ: Probe of Davao de Oro mining firm sought following landslide
In the same statement, Apex Mining said it has been assisting the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the Environmental Management Bureau, which are both under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in their information gathering.
Aerial video footage of the landslide area is being submitted regularly to the government agencies to help in monitoring and evaluation processes, the company added.
READ: ‘Miracle’: Tot found alive after 60 hours under mud
“Since the slide happened, Apex Mining’s ERTs (Emergency Response Teams) have been working with the government’s rescuers and ERTs of other companies (contractors and the like) in the search and rescue operations, deploying its heavy equipment and rescue gear to augment the local government’s resources,” it noted.
Apex Mining likewise said other mining companies and suppliers are helping in the relief efforts and deploying ERTs and Ground Penetrating Radar.