Since 2022, large machineries of Daguma Agro Minerals Inc and Bonanza Energy Resources Inc, companies of San Miguel Energy Corporation (SEMC), have been constantly mining coal in Barangay Ned, Lake Sebu in South Cotabato. Mining continues despite resistance of residents, church people, environmental groups and even the provincial government. The once verdant farms are now black soil shrouded in suffocating smoke and dust.

From morning to night, big trucks come and go bringing mined coal to the pier in Kalaong, Maitum, Sarangani. Residents said the coal being amassed is meant for the SMEC power plant in Davao. It also supplies to the coal plant in Maasim, Saranggani owned by the Alcantaras, a partner of the Japanese company Toyota Tsusho Corporation.

SMEC seized 17,000-hectares of forest and agricultural land in the Daguma Mountain Range. A large section forms part of the ancestral land of the Dulangan-Manobo and the T’boli tribe. There are also many settlers here who hail from Panay. Colluding with the provincial council of South Cotabato (except for the former governor), SMEC peddled mining as a “bearer of development” for Barangay Ned. The company paved roads and installed electricity supposedly for the people’s use. It also promised to hire residents as mine workers.

But when the mine opened, SMEC began evicting residents around it. Many of them were forced to sell their land to the company because the local government compelled them to leave the danger zone created by the mine. SMEC bought their farms at very low prices (₱80,000-₱100,000 per hectare).

The company harasses farmers who refuse to sell their land. On April 30, Ricks Mosquero and his wife, Meljean, and Helberth Mosquero and his wife, Analie, were arrested, charged and imprisoned by the guards at Sitio Aboy in Barangay Ned. The four were forced to pass through the front side of the mine because the land they used to cross to go to their farm collapsed.

Mining causes pollution, water contamination and destruction of water source in Daguma. Residents fear the mine will poison the Kabulnan and Allah rivers that flow into the Liguasan Marsh, a vast marshland that serves as an important fishing area. The Allah River, on the other hand, is the main source of irrigation for the vast rice fields in South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.

SMEC claims using “side-stripping” mining method. But experts say this method is not much different from the destructive open-pit mining that has been banned in South Cotabato since 2010. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau reported on 2019 that coal mining in porous soil like Barangay Ned will result in landslides and collapse of communities due to possible underground holes.

In fact, shortly after the mine began operations, provincial agencies have already reported sinkholes in Barangay Ned. In March 2022, Barangay Ned also suffered a flash flood and a landslide that killed one and displaced 300 residents. In September of the same year, another landslide occurred that displaced 117 families.

For a long time, SMEC’s operations was put on hold due to the strong opposition of the people of Barangay Ned. The military besieged the barangay. This led to the massacre of eight Lumads on December 3, 2017. On that day, soldiers killed Tboli-Dulangan Manobo leader Datu Victor Danyan, his two sons Victor Jr and Artemio and Pato Celardo, Samuel Angkoy, To Diamante, Bobot Lagase, and Mateng Bantel. No justice has yet to be served.