Two Dead, Two Injured in Landslide at Subic Bay Freeport Construction Site
Subic Bay, Philippines– Two workers died while two others were injured after a landslide struck the Tipo High-Tech Park inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Saturday morning, August 29, amid continuous heavy rains.
The incident occurred at around 10:45 a.m. along Tipo Road, according to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).
The fatalities were identified as Peng Jiahan, 26, a Chinese national and sales and marketing supervisor of Fubong Environmental Technology, and Ernesto Ramos, a Filipino dump truck driver employed by AM-SAR Trucking. Both were declared dead on arrival at separate hospitals.
Two other workers were injured in the incident. Emergency responders from the SBMA and the Philippine Red Cross assisted in the rescue and emergency response operations.
The SBMA said a retaining wall in the area collapsed before the landslide. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collapse and its cause.
Developer Pledges Cooperation
Xantheng (Subic) International Corp. (XSIC), the management arm of the Tipo Hightech Eco Park, expressed condolences to the victims and their families and pledged full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
In a statement, XSIC said it was coordinating with the SBMA and other concerned agencies for site assessment and the implementation of appropriate measures. The company also said it was communicating with the affected workers and their families and providing necessary assistance.
XSIC added that it was monitoring weather and ground conditions in the affected area and implementing precautionary measures in coordination with authorities.
Coalition Calls for Independent Probe
Meanwhile, the Save Subic Bay Coalition has called for an independent investigation into the incident, urging authorities to examine the engineering, environmental and safety safeguards at the site.
The coalition, composed of residents, Ayta communities, business groups and civil society organizations, also called for a broader review of development projects within the Freeport, particularly their engineering and environmental assessments, inspections and permitting processes.
The group said an independent investigation should establish the circumstances behind the landslide and determine accountability.
The SBMA said it would review existing policies and practices with concerned agencies and stakeholders to strengthen safety measures, monitoring and enforcement standards.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident and determine the factors that led to the landslide.
