TAMPAKAN, South Cotabato — Authorities have intensified their campaign against illegal hydraulic mining or “banlas” following a successful two-day operation in Sitio Kampo Kilot, Barangay Pulabato, resulting in the seizure and destruction of mining equipment and visible environmental improvements in the area.
The operation was carried out by the Task Force Banlas in coordination with multiple local and national agencies, underscoring a unified government effort to curb illegal mining activities that have long threatened the environment and local communities.
Leading the initiative was Tampakan Mayor Leonard Escobillo, alongside the Tampakan Rescue Unit, barangay peacekeeping teams (BPATS) from Danlag, Palo, and Pulabato, and police forces from the South Cotabato Provincial Police Office under PCOL Samuel Cadungon. Also participating were the Provincial Mobile Force Company, Tampakan Municipal Police Station, and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, as well as local officials including Vice Mayor Ric Magbanua and members of the municipal council and barangay leadership.
Authorities said the intensified operation stemmed from prior consultations among Task Force Banlas and national government agencies, aimed at enforcing environmental laws and putting an end to illegal “banlas” activities in upland communities.
During the operation, operatives confiscated and destroyed various tools used in hydraulic mining, including polyethylene (PE) pipes, flexible hoses, sluice boxes, sacks, and screening materials. These are commonly used in extracting gold through high-pressure water systems that erode riverbanks and mountain slopes.
Local officials emphasized that the crackdown reflects the municipal government’s firm stance against illegal mining, which has been linked to environmental degradation, siltation of rivers, and risks to downstream communities.
“This operation demonstrates our seriousness in stopping illegal banlas and protecting our natural resources,” the local government said in a statement.
Authorities also reported noticeable improvements in the condition of nearby waterways following successive operations. Rivers that were previously murky due to mining runoff have shown signs of recovery, with clearer and cleaner water now observed flowing through affected areas.
The Tampakan local government vowed to sustain and further intensify its enforcement efforts, warning that additional operations will be conducted to dismantle remaining illegal mining activities.
Officials stressed that protecting the environment remains a priority, not only for present communities but also for future generations, as they continue to push for stricter monitoring and long-term solutions to illegal resource extraction in the municipality.