VP SARA VISITS LANDSLIDE VICTIMS
VICE President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte visited the victims of the tragic landslide in Barangay Masara, Maco, Davao de Oro, on February 8, 2024.
In a Facebook post on Friday, February 9, Duterte shared that she visited the evacuees at Nuevo Iloco Elementary School, where several individuals were buried alive when a landslide occurred on Tuesday evening, February 7.
She emphasized her commitment to ensuring the comfort and needs of the evacuees.
“Kasama ang mga lokal na opisyal, atin po silang kinausap at sinigurado na katuwang nila ang ating opisina sa pagbibigay ng kanilang mga pangangailangan (Together with the local officials, we talked to them and ensured that they will cooperate with our office in providing their needs),” Duterte wrote in the post.
Before visiting the evacuation sites, Duterte paid respects to those who perished in the landslide by visiting Mt. Diwata, Davao de Oro.
She underscored the importance of being prepared at all times and implementing proactive measures, particularly pre-emptive evacuation in identified hazard zones, to minimize the risk of such incidents.
“Prayoridad po natin ang mapanatiling ligtas at ang pangkalahatang kapakanan. Panalangin ko po na hindi na mauulit pa ang ganitong sakuna (Our priority is to keep you safe and ensure your overall welfare. I pray that this kind of disaster will not happen again),” she said.
Expressing gratitude for
Duterte’s visit, the Municipality of Maco posted on its Facebook, “Dakong kaayo’g kalipay sa atoang mga kalungsuranon nga sila gibisita sa atoang Bise Presidente ug uban pang opisyales sa lokal nga panggamhanan kun unsa na ang ilang kahimtang sa maong evacuation site (Our residents are happy because the Vice President, together with the local officials visited the evacuation sites to check their situation).” the municipality wrote in their post.
The devastating landslide has claimed 15 lives, and injured 31 individuals, with one three-year-old girl miraculously surviving after being buried for three days.
Additionally, 110 people are still missing, and around 1,166 families are seeking refuge in evacuation centers.