BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon
Protecting Busol

I still consider myself fortunate for growing up as a kid in the woodlands of Sagada and partly at the Busol watershed in Baguio during summer and Yuletide breaks. This is one thing most of the young nowadays haven’t experienced.

In both places, we spent time looking for mushrooms, berries, dried wood for cooking or bonfire or just getting wet in ponds or rivers. Oh yes, there was that river then at the Ambiong side in Busol where we swam. But then, that is long gone, just a figment of the imagination as the site had been taken over by buildings and other structures.
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In the 60s to the 70’s, we scoured Busol from Aurora Hill to the La Trinidad side in wild abandon. We passed a few shanties every now and then where patches of gardens were tended by the friendly farmers.

It was always a temptation to swim at the reservoir atop Brooks Point but then, the more sober among us would always caution the carefree that water in the large container was being drank by Baguio folk.

As a teenager in college, we also had numerous bonfires and instant parties at Brook Point but that is another story. Over the years since the 60s, I can say that I have watched how Busol evolved – from a pristine and forested haven to a site invaded by so-called squatters.
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There may be truth to allegations of some Ibalois that they own parts of the watershed but then, we are not about to discuss that as the Supreme Court, in its recent decision regarding the issue, upheld the legality of demolition orders against the “squatters.”

This, after the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples obtained a court Temporary Restraining Order against its implementation. Now the Baguio Re-greening Movement is pressing the city government to implement demolition orders to tear down illegal structures inside the watershed after passing a resolution to this effect last week.

Bishop Carlito Cenzon of the Diocese of Baguio-Benguet, pushed for the resolution, which was agreed to be sent to the mayor’s office on a monthly basis, until the demolition orders are implemented.
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The BRM also agreed to press utility service providers, such as the Benguet Electric Cooperative and Baguio Water District to have a “policy denial” with regards to electric, water and other utility services applications of structures or buildings inside watersheds, like Busol. .

The BRM is also pushing fencing of Busol. The BWD, which allocated P3 million for such purpose, is set to prepare a project plan. A guardhouse is also being constructed in the area with the first stage already finished.

The next stage is set to begin once the project is awarded to a contractor. A composite team from the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, police, local government units, BWD and BRM, will man the guardhouse.
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Efforts have been exerted by cause-oriented groups and those in government to preserve Busol and somehow, their efforts are paying off. The Eco-walk, a brainchild of older generation Baguio newsmen like incumbent city hall chief information officer Ramon Dacawi, the late Peppot Ilagan, Willy Cacdac and Steve Hamada to preserve Busol, is most notable, having earned international awards on environment protection like the United Nations.

Over the years, co-walk, under Ramon, had been instrumental in re-greening Busol with grade school children as planters. Every now and then, I hear, these kids, some in college or those who are now professionals or businessmen go to Busol to see the pie trees they have planted.
They say it heartens them to see that the trees they planted as kids are now fully grown. For those who have children, they bring them to Busol for picnics and relate to them how the trees have sprung to life.

Ramon had attended seminars and workshops worldwide to share the experiences of eco-walk as a project which could be replicated elsewhere in the world. The seeds of environmental consciousness had been planted in the children’s minds as a result like the tree that binds the planter to its roots.

If more children could learn about protecting the environment from such programs, Mother Earth need not cry in the future.