LUPON, DAVAO ORIENTAL — Police forces cordoned off and secured the Marayag mining site on November 19, 2025, as part of intensified provincial efforts to halt illegal and environmentally destructive mining activities in the area.
Personnel of the Lupon Municipal Police Station and the 2nd DOPMFC, under the leadership of Provincial Director PCOL Ritchie S. Bucol, established security perimeters around the site to enforce existing regulations. Authorities underscored that unauthorized entry into the property constitutes trespassing and is strictly prohibited.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) appealed for public understanding and cooperation, clarifying that the operation is part of its mandate to uphold the law and safeguard the welfare of the community.
Crackdown Triggered by Renewed Illegal Extraction
The latest police deployment complements the Provincial Government’s broader campaign against illegal mining, driven by verified reports from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) confirming the resurgence of unauthorized mineral extraction along the Sumlog River in Barangay Marayag.
Following ENRO’s findings, Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang immediately mobilized a composite enforcement force to implement Executive Order No. 72, Series of 2025, which mandates province-wide operations against illegal quarrying, hauling, and mineral transport.
This renewed crackdown comes despite Lupon’s earlier Executive Order No. 38, Series of 2025, already ordering all quarrying activities in the affected area to cease.
Confiscations and Round-the-Clock Enforcement
Composite Task Force teams led by ENRO Acting Department Head Derbert B. General—consisting of the PNP, the Philippine Army’s 701st Infantry Brigade and 66th Infantry Battalion, the Provincial Information Office, and local barangay officials—have been conducting nonstop patrols, checkpoints, monitoring, and direct enforcement operations.
These sustained actions have resulted in the confiscation of illegally extracted ores, heavy equipment, and vehicles used in illicit mining operations.
Governor Dayanghirang said the environmental risks posed by illegal mining leave no room for hesitation.
“Ang pagpanalipod sa atong kinaiyahan dili na puwede dugay-dugayan. Ang Sumlog River, uban pa nga mga dapit sa Davao Oriental, kinahanglan nato bantayan para sa atong mga anak ug umaabot nga henerasyon,” he stressed.
Part of a Broader Environmental Defense
The operations in Marayag reflect a larger, more aggressive environmental protection campaign in Davao Oriental—parallel to the province’s strong opposition to the controversial mining operations in Macambol.
Governor Dayanghirang confirmed that the Provincial Government has already filed a formal complaint regarding the Macambol mining project, elevating the matter to the DENR Secretary, the Mindanao Development Authority (MINDA), and the Office of the President.
The complaint includes concerns from residents, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and various environmental assessments warning of potential irreversible damage to protected ecosystems in Macambol.
“We have already done our part. The documents are with the national offices and with the President. We are now waiting for their response. Our stand remains firm: dili nato tugotan ang bisan unsang hulga sa kinaiyahan sa Davao Oriental,” the governor said.
Commendation for Unified Provincial Action
Local officials and partner agencies have lauded the coordinated efforts led by the Provincial Government, citing swift action, strong inter-agency collaboration, and a proactive stance against illegal mineral extraction. They emphasized that the persistence of such activities poses grave threats to community safety, biodiversity, and long-term environmental sustainability.
Strict Penalties for Violators
The Provincial Government warned that individuals involved in illegal mining face harsh sanctions under:
- Republic Act 7942 (Philippine Mining Act of 1995)
- Republic Act 7076 (Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991)
Penalties include arrests, confiscation of minerals and heavy equipment, fines, and permanent suspension of operations.
A public advisory also urged residents to immediately report illegal excavation, nighttime hauling, or suspicious transport of mineral materials to the ENRO, PNP, barangay officials, or nearby military detachments.
A Call for Collective Vigilance
Governor Dayanghirang reiterated that environmental protection is a shared responsibility.
“Ang pagpanalipod sa kinaiyahan katungdanan sa tanan,” he emphasized.
As enforcement operations continue and the province awaits national action on the Macambol mining complaint, Davao Oriental’s leadership reaffirmed its uncompromising stance: the province’s natural environment is non-negotiable—and will be protected at all costs.