KORONADAL CITY — South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. is facing mounting criticism after publicly insisting he has “no choice” but to support the contentious coal mining operations of Daguma Agro Minerals, Inc. (DAMI) in Barangay Ned, Lake Sebu—remarks that critics say oversimplify, and possibly downplay, the provincial government’s role in the project.

In a radio interview, Tamayo defended his stance by pointing to an existing national permit issued by the Department of Energy (DOE).
"Andiyan na ’yan. May national permit. Bakit hindi ko naman suportahan eh gobyerno ako," he said.

Once circulated on social media, the statement triggered widespread pushback. Residents, environmental advocates, and policy observers argued that the governor’s “hands-tied” narrative glosses over the local checks, consultations, and approvals that typically accompany large-scale resource extraction.

"The claim that the province has no power because there’s a national permit is misleading," commenter Martin Angelo Dideles wrote. "Local government participation is part of the process. The authority is not purely national."

Others were more scathing, accusing the governor of evading responsibility at a time when the province faces heightened risks from expanded mining activity.

A controversial expansion

DAMI has formally requested to raise its coal extraction from 3 million to 5 million metric tons annually—a move that would significantly intensify industrial activity in the Mt. Daguma mountain range, an area long flagged by communities as environmentally fragile and disaster-prone.

The expansion request, submitted quietly to government agencies, has amplified long-standing fears over land subsidence, water contamination, and displacement of indigenous communities in the uplands of Lake Sebu and T’boli. Local residents say the timing of the governor’s remarks—just as the expansion is being processed—further inflamed public suspicion.

Ownership changes deepen public distrust

Fueling the unrest is DAMI’s change of ownership in 2024, when the company—previously linked to San Miguel Corporation—was sold to an undisclosed buyer. The absence of publicly available information on the new owners has triggered a fresh wave of anxiety among residents, who question who will be held accountable should environmental or human-made catastrophes occur.

Critics have suggested that the governor appears more aligned with the company’s interests than with community concerns, though no evidence has been provided to support allegations of favoritism.

What is clear, however, is a growing perception of opacity surrounding both the mining company’s operations and the provincial government’s response to it.

Demand for answers

The backlash has placed intense pressure on local leadership to clarify its position, outline its powers, and explain what oversight mechanisms—if any—it plans to exercise as DAMI seeks to expand its footprint.

For now, residents say they are left with more questions than answers: What safeguards will be put in place if extraction increases to 5 million tons per year? Who are the new owners of DAMI, and what is their track record in large-scale mining? Why is the governor publicly distancing himself from a process in which the local government traditionally has a voice?

As public anger swells, the coal fields of Barangay Ned have once again become a political and environmental flashpoint—one where clarity, transparency, and accountability are increasingly in short supply.