MANILA – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) stands prepared to provide assistance and bolster local government units (LGUs) in their ongoing rescue operations following a devastating landslide in Davao de Oro, which trapped workers of a mining firm on February 6.

OCD administrator, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, affirmed that the agency is closely monitoring the situation in Barangay Masara, Maco town, Davao De Oro.

“Our regional counterparts in Davao Region are in coordination with concerned local disaster risk reduction and management offices regarding response operations in Maco and the wider region. At the national level, we are poised to offer additional support to the affected areas,” Nepomuceno stated.

As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, Maco town had reported the recovery of six bodies and the rescue of 31 injured individuals. However, 46 people remain unaccounted for, according to information gathered on the ground.

Various uniformed services and local disaster risk reduction and management offices from neighboring municipalities and cities have deployed rescue teams to the site. Rescue efforts were briefly suspended after midnight on Wednesday but resumed in the morning.

As a precautionary measure, residents from nearby areas have been evacuated to ensure their safety and are currently being accommodated in temporary shelters at nearby schools and churches.

Approximately 300 families, totaling 2,000 individuals, have been affected by the landslide.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. traveled to Davao City on Wednesday for a situational briefing with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Nepomuceno, OCD deputy administrator for operations Assistant Secretary Hernando Caraig Jr., and local officials from Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao Occidental, and Davao City.

Among the topics discussed was the development of an integrated flood control master plan for the Davao River, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Marcos directed Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga to oversee the study with JICA and coordinate with government agencies and LGUs.

As of the latest update, approximately PHP190 million in assistance has been extended to the affected families.

(el Amigo/MNM)