House Deputy Majority Leader for Communications and ACT-CIS Party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo announced that the House of Representatives will begin its inquiry into the landslide in Davao de Oro, which claimed the lives of close to a hundred people.
Committee on Disaster Resilience chairman and Dinagat Islands Representative Alan 1 Ecleo confirmed the schedule, according to Tulfo.
“Nagkaroon lang ho tayo ng Committee of the Whole na mga hearing ho ngayon kaya hindi maumpisahan, pero next week nangako po si Cong. Ecleo na uumpisahan na ho namin yung imbestigasyon kasi po baka nakakalimutan na ho,” Tulfo said.
The legislator stressed the tragedy cannot be disregarded as 98 people perished in the landslide.
“Okay lang ho kung walang namatay maski gumuho pa yung mundo kung wala naman hong namatay okay lang. Pero 98 ho eh.”
“Hindi ho natin pwedeng balewalain. Okay lang ho kung walang namatay maski gumuho pa yung mundo kung wala naman hong namatay okay lang. Pero 98 ho eh. Wala naman hong batang namatay pero may mga babae hong namatay,” the lawmaker explained.
He noted how the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), as early as 2008, warned against constructing residential homes in the area.
“Sinabi na nga ho ng MGB wag nyong tayuan ito, 2008 pa. Tayo ho ng tayo ng bahay. Ngayon wala na hong bahay dahil gumuho na lahat. Mas marami pa pong lugar doon na may ‘No Build Zone’ pero may mga istraktura. Kaya panawagan ho natin sa LGU, parang awa mo na mayor, gobernor, sir paki lang, dahil ho merong structure, huwag na ho nating dagdagan 98 plus walong nawawala, huwag na ho nating dagdagan,” Tulfo appealed.
He recalled the landslide happened in February before Valentine’s Day, with eight persons still missing.
“Sinabi na nga 2008 yang lugar na yan is declared a ‘No Build Zone. Ibig sabihin wala na dapat istraktura dyan, huwag ka na magpatayo, kung meron man dyan, paalisin mo ang mga tao.”
“So mag-iisang daan na ho ito. Wala hong ginawa ang DENR, wala kang narinig sa MGB, wala. So ibig sabihin may problema ho rito. In-interview ko na ho yang mayor na yan, ang sagot sa akin ay hindi naman daw nya pwedeng bantayan, e kung hindi ka ba naman luko-luko, ba’t di mo utusan yung barangay chairman mo, ba’t di mo utusan yung chief of police mo. Sinabi na nga 2008 yang lugar na yan is declared a ‘No Build Zone. Ibig sabihin wala na dapat istraktura dyan, huwag ka na magpatayo, kung meron man dyan, paalisin mo ang mga tao,” Tulfo reiterated.
Tulfo narrated that he, along with ACT-CIS Party-list Representatives Jocelyn Tulfo and Edvic Yap, Quezon City Representative Ralph Wendel Tulfo, Benguet Representative Eric Go Yap, and Davao de Oro Representative Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, filed House Resolution 1568 to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, to make sure that the incident and casualties would not be forgotten.
The resolution states that the landslide which occurred in the gold mining village of Barangay Masara in the municipality of Maco, Davao de Oro, resulted in the loss of lives, people remaining missing, numerous injuries, and countless homes buried. When HR 1568 was filed on Feb. 12, 54 people had died and 63 were missing.
