EDITORIAL

Funding projects for watershed protection in the Cordillera
Watersheds in the Cordillera play a pivotal role in the country’s current effort to attain food security and energy self-sufficiency. This was the statement of Bukidnon (2nd district) Rep. Teofisto Guingona III during a recent visit in Baguio as he assured support of the opposition block in the House of Representatives to allocate more funds for the preservation and protection of critical watersheds in the region.

Earlier, the Cordillera Regional Development Council expressed support for a request by the National Irrigation Authority office in the Cordillera for the national government to allocate substantial amount for its five-year watershed rehabilitation and management program aimed at saving the over 6,000 hectares of critical watersheds from further devastation.

While admitting that the minority in the House could voice out its concerns on sensitive issues affecting food and energy security, Guingona said allocation of funds still depends on the decision of the majority although watershed rehabilitation and management should be the concern of all lawmakers belonging to both the opposition and administration because it is the lifeblood of the country’s agriculture sector.

Aside from strengthening the government’s watershed rehabilitation program, Guingona cited the importance of increasing the salaries of forest rangers so that they would not be forced to be tempted by the bribe offers of illegal loggers.
Cordillera RDC and NIA officials have made press statements saying they have embarked on projects to rehabilitate the region’s devastated forest cover which resulted in significant decrease of the water flowing in the four major rivers supplying irrigation water to vast track of agricultural lands in the lowland.

The Agno, Chico, Magat and Abra Rivers trace their headwaters to Mt. Data and Mt. Pulag national parks which are now being rapidly invaded by unscrupulous individuals who have established big commercial farms in forested areas. Abundant water supply would result in increased crop production in vast tracks of agricultural lands in the rice-producing areas of Northern Luzon.

This, in turn, could ensure sufficient production that could meet the growing demand for rice and other farm products. The Cordillera has been described as the "Watershed Cradle of Northern Luzon" because it is the major source of water supplying small and big power plants as well as irrigation water for farms in Regions I, II and III.

It is high time Cordillera watersheds should be protected from illegal loggers and rapacious farmers who have squatted on such areas claiming these as their lands and cutting trees which are vital in sustaining the ecological system. The government should show more teeth in implementing programs to protect the environment other than paying lip service.