Squatters now occupy 50 percent of Baguio watersheds

EDITORIAL

Around 50 percent of watersheds in Baguio City are now occupied by informal settlers or squatters, according to the city’s top executive. Sooner or later, according to officials and environmentalists, the city’s vital sources of water supply would be depleted if further encroachment of watersheds would go on unabated.  

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said forest reservations are primary sources of water for the city thus there was urgent need to address the situation. The mayor said for one, he would strengthen a multi-agency task force that will preserve and protect Busol, the largest watershed here to prevent further encroachment.

Domogan recently reorganized Busol Reserve Task Force through Administrative Order No. 004.

Named team leader was engineer Joel Wadwadan of the Baguio Water District, with forester Mark Chaloping of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office as assistant team leader.

Members include foresters Walter Aguirre and John Padua of the City Environment and Parks Management Office; Nestor de Guzman of the Baguio Regreening Movement; Benjamin Malona of the BWD; punong barangays Randy Gati, David Puguon, Tomas Tolete and Roberto Medina; forester Rosalio Goze, former Regional Executive of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Philippine National Police representative from Station 3, Pacdal; councilor Leandro Yangot, Jr., chair of Sangguniang Panlungsod’s committee on urban planning, lands and housing and councilor Fred Bagbagen, SP committee chair on committee on health and sanitation, ecology and environmental protection.

The task force will enforce forestry laws, rules and regulations, patrol, investigate, survey and prevent illegal acts and apprehend violators of forestry laws. It would also assist and monitor reports on implementation of legally issued demolition orders; submit monthly reports to respective heads of respective offices and hold monthly meetings to assess performance of the said task force. It would also hold office and maintain records at CENRO-Baguio and at the Baguio Busol Guardhouse.

The Busol Forest Reservation situated in the city of Baguio and in La Trinidad, Benguet was declared a watershed by Proclamation No. 15, dated April 27, 1922.

The Busol fencing program was launched last year by the BWD with support from private groups and individuals, but to date, unscrupulous individuals are reportedly trying to encroach in Busol among other watersheds. Ancestral land claims within Busol among other watersheds are complicating its protection and these have also to be addressed considering some claims could also be genuine.