Davao Oriental — The lush mountains and pristine coastline of Davao Oriental — home to two world-renowned ecological treasures, the Pujada Bay and Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary — are once again in the spotlight as tensions rise over the environmental and social impacts of ongoing mining operations in Barangay Macambol, Mati City.
During a Dialogue on Mining Concerns held on October 6, 2025, at the Subangan Tourism Complex, Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang led local leaders, barangay officials, and community representatives in raising alarm over the destructive footprint of large-scale mining, which has already affected more than 200 hectares of land. The mining activities, he warned, not only threaten critical ecosystems but also jeopardize the province’s long-term plans for sustainable tourism and development — including the MACALULA Road Network Loop Project, envisioned to connect the barangays of Macambol, Cabuaya, Luban, and Lanca.
“Mahurot ang kwarta, apan dili nato mapulihan ang atong kalibotan,” said Governor Dayanghirang.
(“We can lose money, but we can never replace our environment.”)
The governor emphasized that the mining site’s proximity to the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and ASEAN Heritage Park, poses serious risks to one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the Philippines. The sanctuary — famed for its pygmy forests, pitcher plants, and as home to the critically endangered Philippine eagle — is considered a global symbol of conservation success.
Equally at stake is Pujada Bay, also in Mati City, which was recently declared one of the “Most Beautiful Bays in the World” during the 15th World Bays Congress in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. This recognition placed Davao Oriental on the global ecotourism map, celebrating its clear waters, rich coral ecosystems, and scenic coastal landscapes.
But environmentalists and residents fear that all these could be erased if mining continues. Siltation, deforestation, and soil erosion from open-pit operations could devastate marine habitats and contaminate nearby water sources — undoing years of conservation work and local tourism progress.
Governor Dayanghirang, backed by Vice Governor Glenda Rabat-Gayta, Mayor Joel Mayo Almario of Mati, and other municipal and barangay leaders, announced that the Provincial Government, through the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, will draft a resolution calling for the suspension of mining operations in Macambol. The move aims to rally public support for environmental protection and the preservation of the province’s ecological and cultural heritage.
However, Hallmark Mining Corporation, the company operating in the area, defended its activities in a public statement, asserting its commitment to “responsible mining.” The firm cited safeguards under its Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (EPEP), including siltation ponds, collector sumps, and biodiversity measures monitored by a Multi-Partite Monitoring Team.
Hallmark also underscored the livelihood concerns of over 1,800 mine workers and some 3,000 others in related industries, emphasizing that “behind every job is a parent, a student, a dream.” The company pointed to its CSR projects and tax contributions, claiming it has improved access to education, healthcare, and local infrastructure in host communities.
Yet, critics argue that no amount of corporate social responsibility can offset the irreversible environmental losses and the long-term displacement of livelihoods that depend on the land and the sea. Once the minerals are exhausted, they warn, companies leave — but the burden of ecological damage remains with the people.
Davao Oriental stands at a crossroads: to continue extracting from its land at the cost of its natural wonders, or to protect its globally recognized ecosystems that sustain both life and identity.
As Governor Dayanghirang said in his closing remarks, the choice is clear:
“Our future generations deserve to inherit a province that is green, thriving, and full of life — not a scarred reminder of what we have lost.”