In January 14, 2022, the residents of Barangay Maputi, Banaybanay, Davao Oriental expressed their dismay to mining activities that turned their once clear river and coastal area to an orange-silty river-delta as they posted heart-breaking photos and videos of the polluted Mapagba River in the social media. The local government unit (LGU) of the municipality asked the Davao Oriental State University (DORSU) to investigate the matter. The DORSU researchers collected water and sediment samples from the different sites of Mapagba River. Few kilometers north, the Pintatagan River was found to suffer a similar fate. The residents also reported that another adjacent river, the Maputi River, had also discolored a year ago. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Davao Region (DENR-Davao) reported, in a public statement released after a week of the tragedy, the heavy siltation incident may have been caused by the large volume of water following heavy rains. However, residents attributed this incident to a mining operation in the area. The provincial government demanded a temporary suspension of the mining activity. However, mining has continued after a clean-up operation of the tailings but without detailed evaluation of the damage and effect of the siltation on the ecosystems. ​​As the only university in the province, it is the responsibility of DOrSU to assist the government and community by providing science-based facts of the status of the three rivers. This study is proposed to conduct an independent scientific study on the possible mineral pollution in the three rivers and the coastal area. Urgent evaluation of the water and sediment are essential for proper action, mitigation and management.