Army intensifies search in Davao landslide area

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Army has ramped up its search and rescue efforts to save missing persons in the mining community devastated last week by a landslide in Barangay Masara in Maco, Davao de Oro.

Efforts had borne the miraculous rescue of a young girl who was dug out alive under the mud and debris on Feb. 9.

The landslide occurred on Feb. 6 after a continuous downpour.

Two Light Urban Search and Rescue teams continue their operations in the mining town of Masara, the Army said.

The Army’s 525th Engineer Combat Battalion under the 51st Engineer Brigade is hoping to save more missing persons in the landslide site.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) dispatched two food trucks from Cebu to Agusan del Sur amid the flooding and landslides in Mindanao.

In a statement, the PRC said the trucks, which departed Cebu Pier 4 on Saturday night, arrived at Nasipit Port in Butuan City at 6:45 a.m. yesterday.

PRC secretary general Gwen Pang said PRC chapters near the affected areas are ready to assist.

The PRC’s Cagayan de Oro regional warehouse released 520 collapsible 20-liter jerry cans to its chapter in Davao del Norte; 1,000 to Davao de Oro, and 1,000 to Agusan del Norte.

In Davao de Oro, two food trucks marked the third day of distributing hot meals to 1,128 persons, while a water tanker provided 10,000 liters of water to 248 residents in Barangay Elizalde during its fourth day of operation.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s humanitarian team distributed 960 gallons of clean water to 6,188 persons affected by floods and landslides in Davao de Oro.

The Nuevo Iloco National High School in Mawab and the Andili National High School in Maco, which currently serve as evacuation centers, received clean water.

The humanitarian team also brought 60 units of solar-powered water filtration systems, each capable of filtering 180 gallons of water per hour. — Ernest Villeza