Watershed protection

HAPPY WEEKEND
Gina Dizon
(Second part of a series)
SAGADA, Mountain Province – Application of customary practices on watershed and water management is a major call of some 250 participants as they identified privatization of watersheds and waters, and deforestation as major problems during the Watershed Summit held here May 26 to 27.

The Declaration of Principles and Commitment adopted by the participants said customary practices set the guiding framework in protecting watersheds regarding biodiversity management, utilization and access to forest products, ownership, conflict resolution and ensuring communal rights to water.

Earlier documented customary practices on watershed management in the 19 barangays of Sagada, formed part of the making of a municipal Watershed Code and formulation of the implementing rules and regulation of the Joint Administrative Order of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of 2008 on sustainable indigenous forest management practices.

The declaration followed after discussion of issues and concerns on watershed and waters as part of the two-day Summit participated by delegates representing farmers, elders, irrigators, women, youth, barangay officials of the municipality, government and the non- government sector. Recommendations formed part of the workshop and the roles of stakeholders on issues identified.

Central Zone participants representing Poblacion barangays of Patay, Demang and Dagdag identified communal watersheds of Malebelba and Pilaw claiming these to be tax- declared in the name of private individuals.

Poblacion workshop participants said declaration by individuals of communal lots has led to the behavioral attitude of people here not to put off forest fires claiming that owners referring to those who tax declared the mountains go and ‘sebseban’ (put off the fire) the burning mountain.

Sangguniang Bayan councilor Dennis Lopez moved for the cancellation of tax-declaration of private individuals on communal watersheds and the eventual titling of the communal watershed in the name of the umili/barangay.

In said Summit, eastern zone delegates complained of privatization of their communal watersheds in Kiltepan locating the popular Kiltepan rice terraces, and Lamagan watershed which situates the much- visited Marlboro Country.

Elder Lakay Laminis from Tetep-an barangay strongly claimed that Lamagan is a communal zone during an earlier documentation of customary practises Yet some eastern barangay residents complained of individuals having tax- declared the communal watershed.

The popular Kiltepan traces its sale by a i-Kilong barangay resident to former Governor Alfredo Lam-en. The purchased lot was likewise sold to businessman Wilson Capuyan. Currently, Kiltepan is undergoing earth movements and private development. Although the LGU of Sagada issued an earlier resolution declaring the area as a public park it being much- visited by local and foreign tourists.

Eastern participants during the summit workshops called for the community peoples’ collective protection of the Kiltepan watershed as it provides water to their ricefields in Dokkos, Tukok, Bantig and Sewang.

In the watershed-rich northern barangays, interior Tanulong complained of privatization of hectares of their communal watershed in Maaney by some Poblacion resident- buyers. For one, umili of Tanulong opposed one application for a Certificate of Ancestral Land Title (CALT) with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

The NCIP was specially called for to support opposition of umili contesting CALTs applied for by private individuals over communal lots and exercise caution over clan- owned watersheds privately applied by individuals.

As to communally clan-owned smaller watersheds, Central Zone participants forwarded that clan members first and foremost resolve land disputes among themselves and if not resolved shall seek the lupon who shall mediate and work out clan-based decisions..
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Privatization of waters also reached intense reactions on the on- going building of a mini-dam at a spring lot at Kenta-agen purchased by the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines (EDNP) from Poblacion resident Albert Bangsail.

People here hold the belief that water is a gift from Kabunian accessible by all as a communal right. Central zone participants expressed apprehension of ricefields not being supplied of irrigation due to the piping out of waters.

Brenda Fuchay, rice-field owner located below the dammed spring complained that the pumayew (rice field owners) are the first to be affected on the diversion of waters at Kentaagen spring.

In the same development, private water- spring owners bring home waters from remote spring locations to this water-broke semi-urban Poblacion.

The building of barangay reservoirs was strongly forwarded by workshop participants of central Sagada that excess waters flowing from individual tanks get centralized in a public tank. Otherwise, waters shall be pooled in one public reservoir.

The much- coveted Boasaw Creek in the northern zone with waters flowing towards Abra is eyed as a potential source for water-needy Sagada. An initial P18 million was already sourced from the priority development assistance funds (PDAF) of Senator Teofisto Guingona 111 and an additional P18 million from Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource and Management Project (CHARMP). The Boasaw waters was earlier diverted to two dams – an upper structure going to Tanulong, Sagada and a lower dam going to Agawa, Besao.