Buried in silence, another life lost to gold

DAVAO CITY (Juky 28) – The death of a miner in Mawab marks yet another tragedy in Davao de Oro’s perilous quest for riches, where fragile tunnels collapse, and safety remains elusive.

A 37-year-old miner died after being buried alive in a collapsed gold tunnel in Barangay Tuboran, highlighting once again the risks tied to small-scale mining in the disaster-prone province of Davao de Oro.

The victim, identified as Cristituto Guijuanon, was declared dead on arrival at the Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City on Friday, July 26, after being retrieved by fellow miners from a 7-meter-deep tunnel that gave way while he was digging with two other colleagues.

According to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Mawab, the tunnel had been submerged and unstable for nearly five days, since July 21. The collapse occurred early Friday morning, trapping Guijuanon under heavy debris.

In response, Mayor Myrill Apit immediately ordered the site to be cordoned off. Local police secured the area to prevent further entry and to begin investigation into the safety conditions of the tunnel.

This tragedy comes amid growing concern over the frequency and severity of mining-related accidents in the province, many of which are tied to unregulated and informal mining activities in geologically vulnerable areas.

A Province Scarred by Mining Disasters

Davao de Oro, known for its rich gold reserves, has long struggled to balance economic opportunity with environmental and human safety. The July 26 incident in Mawab adds to a growing list of mining-related tragedies in the province:

📍 Timeline of Major Mining Incidents in Davao de Oro

February 6, 2024 – Maco Landslide

A massive landslide struck Barangay Masara, Maco town, killing at least 98 people, most of them mine workers and students waiting in buses. The incident was triggered by days of heavy rain, burying homes and transport vehicles near a gold mining site.

February 7–23, 2024 – Prolonged Rescue Operations

Search and retrieval efforts stretched over two weeks, hampered by dangerous terrain and rain-induced aftershocks. Authorities recovered 93 bodies, with 9 people missing, making it one of the deadliest landslides in the region’s recent history.

July 26, 2025 – Mawab Tunnel Collapse

The most recent casualty, Cristituto Guijuanon, was buried under a collapsed tunnel as he and his team searched for gold. His death has reignited calls for tighter regulation and improved safety monitoring of small-scale mining operations.

A Call for Regulation and Preparedness

Authorities and disaster risk experts continue to urge the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and local governments to strengthen oversight of small-scale mining activities, particularly in mountainous regions frequently affected by heavy rainfall and landslides.

The Philippine Red Cross and emergency services also stress the importance of hazard mapping, community education, and stricter enforcement of mining permits to prevent future tragedies.

As the province mourns yet another life lost to mining, residents and local leaders are once again faced with a pressing question: how many more must perish before safety becomes gold’s true measure?