Davao Oriental steps up defense of Sumlog River as illegal mining resurfaces

MATI CITY (November 20) — The Provincial Government of Davao Oriental has intensified its campaign to protect the Sumlog River after authorities confirmed the resurgence of illegal mining in Barangay Marayag, Lupon.

Acting on PENRO reports, a composite team seized illegally extracted ores, equipment, and vehicles, enforcing Executive Order 72, which mandates a province-wide crackdown on unauthorized extraction and hauling of minerals. Residents have raised concerns that continued digging has already worsened siltation and erosion, threatening farms and water sources downstream.

Governor Nelson Dayanghirang said the operation reflects the province’s firm stand against activities that endanger local ecosystems and community safety. He noted that the Marayag crackdown forms part of a broader environmental push, including the province’s formal complaint against the Macambol mining project, which communities fear could damage protected forests and watersheds.

The complaint, submitted to national agencies and the Office of the President, outlines long-term environmental risks and calls for intervention before any irreversible harm occurs.

Authorities are urging residents to help monitor river systems and immediately report suspicious excavation or nighttime hauling.

Dayanghirang warned that violators face strict penalties under national mining laws, adding that the province is committed to defending its natural resources “for the safety of communities today and the generations that will inherit them.”