Solons move to preserve Sierra Madre mountains

By Dexter A. See

Lawmakers from the Cagayan Valley and Cordillera regions have introduced House Resolution No. 438 – a resolution declaring Sept. 26 of each year as “Save Sierra Madre Day” to help empower local residents and visitors to be actively involved in preservation and protection of the environment in Northern Luzon.

The bill was filed by the lawmakers in response to the call of the Save Sierra Madre Network to declare Sept. 26 of each year as Save Sierra Madre Day which will serve as an avenue where local residents and visitors will be empowered to actively participate in activities geared towards watershed protection in accordance with a covenant signed by the three RDCs over two years ago.

The SSMN consists of more than 30 organizations involved in development and conservation projects in the Sierra Madre mountains, one of the key watershed areas providing abundant water supply to the Cagayan River, the biggest river system in Northern Luzon and other major river systems in the Cagayan Valley.

The tributaries to the river systems trace their headwaters to the Cordillera mountain ranges, which connect to the scenic Sierra Madre Mountains.

The declaration of Sept. 26 as a special event will serve as a catalyst for the awareness that will generate positive reaction among people to save the Sierra Madre to protect them and to collectively share in the mitigation of floods, landslides and other disasters, officials said.

On Sept. 26, 2009, tropical storm “Ondoy” wreaked havoc to the population of Metro Manila, the provinces of Rizal and Bulacan and other nearby localities.

A week later, Typhoon “Pepeng” aggravated these calamities, causing the deaths of hundreds of people and devastation of properties worth billions of pesos.

Officials blamed the devastation caused by “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” to the destruction of the Sierra Madre brought about by rampant logging and quarrying.

To make the day more meaningful and significant, it was provided in the resolution that the group of the Save Sierra Madre Network be designated to coordinate with other groups and agencies and line up activities proper for the celebration of the Save Sierra Madre Day.

The lawmakers said preserving and protecting the watersheds of the Northern Luzon area will help sustain the desire of the national government for the country to be food and energy self-sufficient in the coming years.

The Cordillera and Sierra mountain ranges are among the thickly forested mountains which serve as the major source of water for the country’s lucrative agriculture and energy sectors.