THE PROVINCIAL Government of Davao de Oro announced it will conduct a scoping of mining areas in partnership with Alinea International to prevent loss of lives and property from landslides.
Joseph Randy M. Loy, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), revealed the plans during the regional kick-off of National Disaster Resilience Month on July 9 at Mati City, Davao Oriental.
“We will be scoping for mining areas, kay kinahanglan og tukma nga mga lakang that should really address landslides,” Loy said.
He stressed that there are many considerations regarding the landslides in Davao de Oro, noting that the province has experienced landslides attributable to mining activities and other factors.
Loy cited the Masara incident last Feb. 6, 2024, where a rain-induced landslide hit a village in Zone 1, Barangay Masara, Maco, Davao de Oro, killing 88.
To note, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau had declared the area a high-risk zone and recommended a strict “no build zone” since 2008 following a September 6, 2008 landslide.
Loy said the landslide was caused by pyroclastic deposits from a volcano, contrary to reports that there was a mining tunnel in the area.
“We need to really disseminate more information, para masabtan gyud ang risk information sa matag lugar,” he said.
He added that aside from Maco, the PDRRMO will also look into the areas of Pantukan.
Loy said the mine scoping will be done by technical experts in the coming months, as the government has already conducted the landscape approach, agricultural areas, and headwaters.
“Because we cannot do away with mining, it’s a means of livelihood in our province, so we need to coexist with these developments in the province, amoa lang niini wala gyuy ma-angol,” he said.
The official said the provincial government already has a “no habitation” ordinance brought about by previous hazards in the past, but there is a need to strengthen the implementation.
Loy said the measure is under review at the PDRRM Council level.
To note, last February 2025, the provincial government, in partnership with Alinea International, signed a memorandum of agreement formalizing the launch of the Governance for Climate Disaster Resilience (Gov-CDR) Project.
Gov-CDR is a comprehensive initiative focused on building long-term resilience and reducing vulnerability to natural disasters.
The six-year project runs from March 2024 to March 2030, is implemented by Alinea International and funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and aims to support the province in enhancing risk and hazard assessments and improving strategies for disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
