The once serene village of Ned, nestled in the green mountains of South Cotabato, is now a hub of heavy industrial activity. Since early 2023, San Miguel Corporation, one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines, began mining coal in the area, sending massive 10- and 12-wheel trucks carrying up to 35 metric tons of coal down once peaceful roads. With the coal came jobs and infrastructure, but also loud protests from environmentalists, local communities, and Indigenous groups.
The coal mining project is more than just a business—it poses a threat to the fragile environment. Ned’s watershed systems, such as the Kabulnan River and Allah Valley Forest Reservation, supply water to the farmlands of Mindanao. Any damage to these critical resources could jeopardize the region’s food and water security, impacting millions. Already, 100 hectares of farmland and forest have been cleared for mining, transforming Ned’s natural beauty into a dusty, noisy industrial zone.
For the Indigenous T’boli-Manobo community, the stakes are even higher. Their ancestral land, vital for farming and cultural preservation, is now at risk of encroachment. “Land is our life,” says Datu Dande Danyan, their leader, as he continues to resist selling out to the coal company. He fears that while some villagers have taken compensation, they now live in poverty after selling their farms, reinforcing his belief that the land should remain in Indigenous hands for long-term sustainability.
Strip mining, used by the company, has already scarred the landscape. While San Miguel insists their methods comply with local laws, critics argue it’s just open-pit mining by another name, a violation of environmental protections. Further down the road, in Maitum, where coal is shipped, residents complain of noise, dust, and road damage from the endless truck traffic.
The villagers and environmentalists argue that the short-term economic gains of coal mining don’t outweigh the long-term destruction of land, water, and community life. As the world shifts toward renewable energy, places like Ned must be protected. Coal may bring profits, but its hidden costs to the environment and people are too high to ignore.
