THE PROVINCIAL government of Davao Oriental held a dialogue with the community to hear their issues on the mining operation in Barangay Macambol, Mati, Davao Oriental, on Monday, Oct. 6.
The dialogue was led by provincial governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang and tackled the effects of the continued operation of a mining company in the province.
The mining company was said to have already affected more than 200 hectares of land and impeded the construction of the MACALULA Road Network Loop Project, a project connecting barangays Macambol, Cabuaya, Luban, and Lanca.
Dayanghirang emphasized the significance of protecting the environment, noting that the mining project is near the buffer zone of Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“Mahurot ang kwarta, apan dili nato mapulihan ang atong kalibotan (The money will be used up, but we can’t replace the earth),” Dayanghirang stressed.
He urged the stakeholders to cooperate to stop the operations affecting the environment and support the province’s tourism and transportation plan.
Following the dialogue, the Sanguniang Panlalawigan will pass a resolution galvanizing public support against the mining operations in Macambol.
Vice Governor Glenda Rabat-Gayta, Mayor Joel Mayo Almario of Mati, Mayor Juanito Inojales of Governor Generoso, and Vice Mayor Sherlyn Marcojos-Casama of San Isidro, along with 26 barangay chairpersons and representatives of the church, were also present in the dialogue.
‘Responsible mining’
Meanwhile, in a statement released on Tuesday, Oct. 7, Hallmark Mining Corporation recognized the deep concern of the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental for the protection of the environment, especially the Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary.
“We want to assure everyone that we remain firmly committed to responsible mining,” Hallmark said in a press release.
The company said they have strong safeguards such as siltation ponds, collector sumps, and active monitoring by the Multi-Partite Monitoring Team, as well as nature-based solutions to prevent harm to the surrounding ecosystems.
It added that more than 1,800 mine workers and around 3,000 more in related industries will be affected as their families depend on the continued operation of the mine.
“Behind every job is a parent, a student, a dream. This is why Hallmark Mining continues to engage openly with local leaders and stakeholders — to protect both the environment and the livelihoods of our people,” it stressed.
The company said it’s investing some of its resources into access to education, healthcare, and basic community services that improve lives in the host barangays through its Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects.
“Hallmark Mining remains a proud partner of development, contributing hundreds of millions of pesos in taxes and fees that go back to the communities through local and national programs. We believe that caring for the environment and supporting our people should go hand in hand,” it stressed.
