By Julian Gempesaw

GENERAL SANTOS CITY—In the wake of reignited fears among residents of South Cotabato Province caused by flashfloods unleashed by Tropical Storm Kristine, Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. allayed worries of environmental damage and destruction.

Tamayo Jr. denied large-scale mining operations in the hinterlands of Tampakan South Cotabato.

“Ang nangyayari kasi ngayon diyan, matindi ang ‘banlas (sluice mining)’… Actually, ang nakikita nating destruction – walangoperation ang large-scale. Ang mayroon diyan, iyong mga small-scale illegal mining (What is happening there now, the 'banlas' is intense... Actually, what we are seeing is destruction - there is no large-scale operation, only small-scale illegal mining),” Tamayo told the local media in a recent interview.

Sluice mining is a technique that uses water to wash gold-bearing gravel into a sluice box where the gold can be separated from the sand using gravity.

Based on records, he said the only operation is San Miguel Corporation's coal-mining operations in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

He added that the Tampakan Copper-Gold Project in South Cotabato is nothing to worry about because it has not commenced operations.

The Tampakan project has met great resistance, particularly from the Catholic church’s Diocese of Marbel and other cause-oriented groups.

Operated by mining firm Sagittarius Mines, Inc., the project has yet to begin its construction phase as the national government granted it a Financial Technical Assistance Agreement. Once it commences operations, it is touted to be Southeast Asia'sbiggest open-pit mine.

Despite the government’s efforts against illegal activities, Tamayo admitted that “ˆ” mining operations still exist, particularly in Tampakan.

“Talagang malaki ang magiging problema natin nitong mgaillegal mining activities na ito. Hindi natin sila ma-regulate. So, iyan ang tututukan natin, iyang mga nasa likod ng illegal activities (These illegal mining activities will really be a big problem for us. We cannot regulate them. So, that is what we will focus on, those who are behind the illegal activities),” he added.

Last week, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reached out to local government units for support in overseeing mining operations nationwide.

DENR Assistant Secretary Rochelle Gamboa highlighted the challenge posed by the agency's limited staffing, which makes it difficult to effectively monitor all mining sites across the country.