Hope dims for missing workers – EDC

ORMOC CITY, Philippines – Lopez-led Energy Development Corporation’s (EDC) and First Balfour are now on “search and retrieval mode” as hope of recovering any of the 9 workers who went missing in a landslide on Friday, March 1, dims.

In a briefing on Saturday, First Balfour Senior Vice President Albert Ignacio said none of the 9 missing persons in the landslide area at Pad 403 of EDC Upper Mahiao Plant in Bgy Lim-ao, Kananga, Leyte have been found.

Ignacio said that as much as they would want to find the workers alive, they are not giving their families false hopes.

In text messages sent on Saturday, March 2, Corporate communications officer Dave Devilles said the high risk to life of the emergency response team (ERT) must be eliminated first before the search and retrieval of the 9 missing workers can begin.

“The crown of the slope where the land fell had to be cleared before the ERT can go in again,” Devilles explained.

An emergency response team was only allowed to resume search and retrieval operations at 1 pm because the area had to be cleared of dangerous debris and other risks as these could also endanger them.

The crown, Devilles said, was the top of the slope, with about 20 trees that had to be cut down and cleared to make sure the movement of the loose soil on top is minimized.

Families informed

Ignacio announced that EDC and First Balfour have spoken to the families of the 5 fatalities. 

On the fatalities, the last one body retrieved was supposed to be released to the family before 6 pm. One of the widows has even been offered employment by First Balfour.

“Burial and financial assistance have been provided,” Devilles said.

The company said around 5 patients will be discharged on Sunday, March 3, and another 2 will be discharged from the hospital by Monday, March 4. The other patient will be released around 3 to 5 days after because doctors still need to observe him.

Devilles added they are also taking care of the families of the 9 missing workers. Representatives of the companies have also visited the 8 people confined at the two hospitals in nearby Ormoc City and are paying their bills.

JA Arradaza Construction (a subcontractor of First Balfour), which was working on the rig at the EDC plant in the mountains of Kananga, said a total of 45 workers were affected by the incident.

This included 9 workers who died, 9 missing, and 21 workers who were receiving treatment in a clinic, as well as 8 workers who were sent to hospitals. – with reports from Eastern Visayas Mail/Rappler.com