The provincial government of Davao de Oro has officially designated an 81-hectare area in Sitio Tagpura, Barangay Camanlangan, New Bataan, as a Minahang Bayan, or people’s mining area, aiming to provide legal and regulated opportunities for small-scale miners.
The declaration was signed on Friday, January 16, 2026, by Governor Raul G. Mabanglo, the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) Chairperson, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-Davao Regional Director Beverly Mae M. Brebante, and members of the provincial council.
Governor Mabanglo highlighted the importance of ensuring that trained cooperatives can access resources effectively, citing Monkayo’s experience as a cautionary example.
“Pero unsaon ta man nga wala man silay gold? Naa ang Diwalwal sa Monkayo, pero ang problema sa LGU wala silay gold. Trained ilang mga tao, pero wala silay gold. Ang result nga gipakita ang ilahang mga jewelry na nahimo, silver,” he said. (“But what can we do when they don’t have gold? Diwalwal exists in Monkayo, but the problem for the LGU is that they don’t have gold. Their people are trained, but they don’t have gold. The result they showed—the jewelry they made—was silver.”)
The governor extended his congratulations to Tasmico, the first cooperative to receive a Secretary’s clearance under the new Minahang Bayan initiative.
“Congratulations to Tasmico, nga kamo ang unang nareleasan og Secretary’s clearance, ug congratulations to Tasmico and I hope nga kanang responsible mining ug tarung nga pagmina inyong buhaton. And rest assured kini gyud ang akong permanenteng ginasulti sa mga minahang bayan kung unsa man ang inyong panginahanglan, kanang kaya lang sa probinsya mu-assist gyud mi,” he added. (“Congratulations to Tasmico, as you are the first to be granted a Secretary’s clearance. Congratulations again to Tasmico, and I hope that you will practice responsible and proper mining. Rest assured, this is something I consistently tell the people in the Minahang Bayan communities: whatever your needs are, as long as the province can assist, we will truly provide support.”)
The Minahang Bayan program is designed to legally regulate small-scale mining, ensuring environmental protection while providing livelihood opportunities for local communities.
This development positions New Bataan as a potential model for responsible small-scale mining in the region, with direct benefits for cooperative groups and local economies.
How do you see this new Minahang Bayan impacting small-scale mining operations and local livelihoods in Davao de Oro?
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Photo credit: Sunstar
