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Friday, December 16, 2005
Environmentalist rues state of Baguio's water source
By Jeff M. Tupas
Correspondent
A RICH water source hill in the Baguio District of Davao City is now the object of destructive clearing operations of some farmers in the area. Local officials have recognized the significance of the hill to the city.
The naked part of Mt. Gaway in Barangay Carmen is now more than three hectares. Underlying the hill is a spring that supplies the water needs of the villages of Carmen, Baguio, Wines, Cadalian, and Tawan-Tawan.
The area is supposedly protected by Executive Order 22 (Terrain Analysis), which identified the area as conservation zone.
"It's bad news, it's terrible. I am afraid that the whole area will be falling," said Cameron Weetman, a New Zealander environmental conservationist referring to the continuing massive cutting of naturally grown trees and other vegetation in Mt. Gaway in Barangay Carmen, Baguio District.
Weetman even personally saw the recent activity and caught it on video. The volunteer environmentalist of the group Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (Idis) has been moving around Carmen and Tawan-Tawan for a biodiversity assessment, which include watching inhabitant and migratory birds and naturally grown trees.
In Carmen, Weetman reported the sighting of a Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), which according to residents was the same eagle released by the City Government in the area many years back. This development has prompted authorities to resort to a last ditch effort just to save the water source.
On Friday, a joint investigation was conducted by the Davao City Council, City Environment and Natural Resources (Cenro), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Idis and some local residents.
Members of the investigating team, particularly those who were from the DENR, were surprised and alarmed at the extent of destruction.
The investigation also came following a complaint lodged by members and officials of the Carmen Water Spring Association, Cadalian Water System Association, and Tawan-Tawan Water Sanitation Association with Duterte.
The complaint apparently saw its way to Duterte after Carmen Chair Alfredo Austral failed to resolve the clearing operation.
"We've lodged complaint to the council but nothing happened. If their activities would continue, the people would surely suffer because the supply of water would really be affected," said Nita Pacaoncis, a resident of the village.
Former Carmen village chair Crisologo Cresencio, who claimed ownership of part of Mt. Gaway, admitted he indeed ordered the clearing of the area but denied naturally grown trees were also cut.
The hill, he said, was cleared to give way to fruit crops.
"We will plant fruits there. I am aware that any development in forested areas needs the approval of the barangay council and the DENR," he said. However, he admitted that he did not secure the needed papers before clearing the property.
"We could have cut trees but they were of less importance, of less usage. If you are concerned about the spring, we are more than concerned because we live here," he added.
But a resident would not believe Crisologo. "His pronouncements were different from what he has been doing, his words were just meant to impress the listeners."
Perfecto Alcoberez, Protective Officer of the Community Environment and Natural Resources-Bangkal Office, said it appeared that Crisologo was lying because "we saw that there were naturally grown trees that were cut."
"All trees have their purpose. There are no less important trees. If they will be proven guilty of violating some environmental laws, they will surely be facing the law," he said.
Trees that were cut, he said, include Ulayan (oak tree) and other hardwoods. Some locals also said that the hill is a host to species of Lawaan.
Based on the stumps seen in the cleared area, the trees were approximately 5 meters in length and 11 inches in diameter. Alcoberez also said that some of the cut trees indicated that they were about 10-15 years old.
This incident proved that some existing laws about land and their usage are yet to be implemented.
"What's important is that the clearing be immediately stopped. We don't understand why the barangay and DENR cannot assert their authority to protect the area," said Weetman.
(December 16, 2005 issue)
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