Drones take aim at riverbank miners

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Drones are now helping Northern Mindanao’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-X) crack down on illegal mining along the boundary of Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City.

MGB Acting Regional Director Rodante Fellino highlighted that the bureau recently completed a four-day Re-Echo Training on Drone Operation, Post-Image Processing, and ArcGIS Pro Integration, aimed at boosting technical skills for mapping, monitoring, and analyzing mining activities.

The training was hands-on, covering everything from basic drone parts and flight maneuvers to using DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise drones. Participants also learned how to process images in ArcGIS Drone2Map, integrate data into ArcGIS Pro, and create detailed, shareable maps. By the end, the team was ready to use drones and advanced geospatial tools to improve environmental monitoring and resource management.

And the results came fast. Drone surveys recently exposed a large-scale illegal mining operation, allegedly run by a sitting barangay official.

Authorities arrested one operator and seized heavy equipment, including three hydraulic excavators, 10 water pumps, hoses, sluice mats and boxes, a wooden pan, and even transaction logs tying the operation to the sale of illegally extracted sand, gravel, and other river materials.

Drone and ground inspections showed nearly five hectares of riverbank disturbed, with excavation depths averaging three meters — a clear sign of sustained and destructive mining activity.

The crackdown was a joint effort involving MGB-10, EMB-10, the NBI North Eastern Mindanao Regional Office, and the Philippine Army’s 2nd Special Forces Company.

Despite the raid, local authorities say penalties for illegal mining remain weak, which continues to fuel a “gold rush” in hinterland barangays along the Cagayan de Oro–Misamis Oriental border. Opol Mayor Jay Bago noted that arrested miners can post bail, and seized equipment could be reclaimed with fines as low as P2,000.

Under Act 7942, the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, illegal mining carries imprisonment of six months to six years, fines between P10,000 and P20,000, and liability for damages. Corporations can also hold their presidents and directors accountable.

With drones and modern mapping technology now in play, the MGB-X hopes to strengthen enforcement, protect river systems, and hold illegal miners accountable — a high-tech approach to tackling an age-old problem.