Illegal mining threatens catastrophic floods at South Cotabato project

KORONADAL CITY — A barangay official has raised alarm over flood risks posed by illegal hydraulic mining in areas surrounding the Tampakan copper and gold project, one of Southeast Asia's largest undeveloped mineral deposits. Neil Ryan Escobillo, barangay captain of Pulabato in Tampakan, South Cotabato, warned that unregulated 'banlas' operations — informal hydraulic mining activities — in low-lying zones could unleash catastrophic flash flooding similar to disasters that have struck Nepal.

The Tampakan project, straddling South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces, has long been a flashpoint for environmental and development concerns. The proliferation of illegal mining operations in vulnerable terrain has compounded these worries, with local administrators increasingly concerned about the cumulative hydrological impact.

Escobillo's warning underscores mounting tension between resource extraction interests and community safety in the region. The informal mining sector, while providing employment for some residents, operates with minimal environmental oversight and structural safeguards against natural disasters.

Local government units and national agencies face pressure to strengthen enforcement against unregulated mining while addressing the underlying economic factors that drive participation in the informal sector. The Tampakan project itself remains mired in regulatory and environmental approval processes, adding to uncertainties around land use and resource management in the area.