It was in 1960 when the Taguibo Watershed area became a part of the concession of Butuan Logs Inc. which resulted in the Philippine Army declaring it a “No Mans Land” in 1984. Eventually, 4,367. 44 hectares out of the 12,438 hectares was proclaimed Taguibo River Watershed Forest Reserve under Presidential Proclamation No. 1075 dated September 4, 1997. According to the Cotabato-Agusan River Basin Development Project (CARBDP), the Taguibo River has the channel length of 35 kilometers from downstream to upstream.
Mount Hilong-hilong which is Caraga Region’s highest peak is the watershed’s highest portion at 2,012 masl, shared by two other adjacent watersheds; Cabadbaran and Wawa. A young Philippine Eagle caught by a Kainginero in the uplands indicates the watershed’s role in biodiversity conservation as part of the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor. It is one of the region’s most productive watersheds with the industrial zone at downstream, a quarry for sand and gravel near the Taguibo Bridge and prawn farms at the estuarine section.
Underground sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks compose the geological formation of the area. Based on the Geo-Hazard Map, the area is within the angle of strike-slip fault located at the barangays of Anticala, Pianing and Taguibo, Butuan City and municipality of Magallanes, Agusan del Norte. Malalag silt loam which is the area’s prevalent soil type and is suitable for Banana, Coconut, Rice and Corn covers 3,485 hectares. Butuan loam covers 3,206. 31 hectares and Hydrosol, another soil type which is suitable for fishpond and wildlife covers 1,176. 5 hectares. Taguibo River follows a dendritic drainage pattern, indicating that the surface materials are homogeneous. In rugged mountainous areas meteoric water runs off rapidly into creeks and streams and eventually in Butuan Bay due to steep slopes. This gives minimal span for rainwater to infiltrate the ground.
Thus, little amount of groundwater is expected in the upland, except in areas where limestone is underlying since high infiltration takes place. The vegetative cover of the area is characterized by second growth forest with an area of 1,042. 7 hectares dominated by White Lauan and Bagtikan, to name a few. The brush land covers 914. 70 hectares. Out of the 10,000 hectares of the watershed, 3,429. 54 hectares are alienable and disposable while the remaining 6,570. 46 hectares is classified as forestland. Forestlands are classified into categories like protection areas and production areas. The protection areas are characterized by high elevation (1,000 m above sea level) or steep slopes, sites with high erosion risk and areas along riverbanks. This comprises a total of 1,485 hectares, closed from production use.
The production areas are those patches of second-growth forest but below 50% slope and 1000 meters above sea level, composing 589 hectares. A brush land area consists 227 hectares; grassland covers 641 hectares dominated by Cogon and Talahib among others. 148 hectares is filled with Falcata and rubber plantations. 62 hectares, meanwhile, constitute residential houses, barangay hall, bunkhouses as such. Roads and trails cover 22 hectares while rivers and creeks cover an estimated 27 hectares. Total cultivated area planted with fruit trees, coconut and cash crops cover 5,802 hectares.
Watersheds contain one or more ecosystem and have multiple uses. The forest component performs its role in maintaining ecological stability, providing economic benefits to nearby residents such as food and wood, and lastly, as source of water supply for the downstream areas. The watershed management is a multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary task which requires the participation and cooperation of various stakeholders in planning, decision-making, implementation, monitoring and evaluating development activities guided by the multiple uses of a watershed.
Therefore a consistent management is required with improved watershed technologies and practices which will be set to provide the continuous flow of benefits to a greater number of people, as well as to the future generation. This includes not only water conservation and forest protection, but also forest-based community enterprises to help out watershed occupants. Integration of various fields, that is to say, the youth, LGUs, NGOs and other government agencies is a requirement thus to allocate and utilize available resources efficiently to obtain maximum environmental, social and economic benefits at the least possible cost.
Taguibo Watershed Today The Taguibo Watershed Characterization Report THE IMPACTS OF TAGUIBO RIVER WATERSHED ON DIFFERENT ASPECTS Impacts of an unprotected watershed Taguibo watershed Issues place fear in different areas of concern. The Impact is being shouldered by the different aspects of the community. Environmentally, it is clear that the continuance of illegal exercises in the watershed would definitely lead to severe environmental destruction. One of the major considerations on watersheds in the Philippines is the presence of human settlements within them.
While not ideal, and it being a source of a major environmental dilemma, it is a situation that must be taken into serious account. Ultimately, watersheds must accomplish the goal of improving the human condition. This is the desired social impact for Taguibo River Watershed. A long-term strategy was put in place to ensure that the carrying capacity of the watershed is meticulously observed which in addition calls for a fair and humane resolution to the allocation of the uplands among the tribes and settlers. A compensation system and vocational retraining must be formulated in the interest of justice and human welfare.
There must be proper regulatory means to allocate specific downstream sections for residential, commercial and industrial purposes. To avoid an undesirable density of houses and firms, and their concomitant problems of waste disposal and pollution, the city government would look for alternative sites for future expansion of the industries and human settlements in order to diffuse the environmental impact. Numerous factors must be taken into consideration in terms of economic impact. Water pollution will definitely affect prawn exports and so measures to ensure and enhance the quality of water must be implemented.
The installation of anti-pollution devices and the construction of water quality monitoring station near rivers will also help. Reforestation is an investment which not only provides protection but as a source of income as well, given that fruit trees are planted. The improvement of the upper section of the watershed will provide the assurance of long-term water supply given a balanced water extraction process. Effects of fertilizer/pesticide use must be checked from time to time to conform to potable waters standards. Also, investment sources might as well be identified to carry out the watershed development strategies.
THE CAUSES OF LOWLAND IN TAGUIBO WATERSHED Pictures showing how the watershed was destroyed Destructive sand-and-gravel extraction, Industrial pollution, severe streambank erosion, and rapid population influx are some of the causes of lowland in Taguibo Watershed. The vicinity of the Taguibo Bridge is a major source for sand and gravel aggregates for the growing city. As of October 30, 2002, according to the City Mining Regulatory Board (CMRB), there are five (5) sand and gravel permit areas downstream of the bridge and fifteen (15) sand and gravel permit areas actively operating approximately one (1) kilometer upstream of Taguibo Bridge. 57,695 cubic meters were extracted from the quarries of Taguibo River according to the records from the city Environment and Natural Resources Office, as of the whole year of 2001. Farm owners along the river have complained of illegal quarrying for aggregates that led to severe erosion of the streambank boundaries of their farmland, and in some cases intrusion of quarrying within their farms. While most of the sand and gravel extraction were done on a legitimate basis, instances of destructive quarrying is a problem that has yet to be adequately addressed by CMRB.
Extreme quarrying that destroyed farmlands at the gravel extraction areas; severe streambank erosion is also noted in most downstream sections of Taguibo River. Periodic flooding occurs on farmland are due when the river overflows its banks and smothers adjacent farmlands with gravel and rocks. The vantage of the Taguibo Bridge is the destructive wrought by the erosion of the streambank. The Land-use plan of Butuan City designates the strip of land on both sides of the highway east of Barangay Ampayon as an industrial zone. This falls within the drainage catchment of Taguibo River.
As more industrial firms are established within this area, the pollution index rises. Barangay of Cabcabon, which is directly downstream of the industrial zone, complained of a steady deterioration of the quality of river water . Soft drinks, Warehouse, Prawn processing, Poultry dressing, Coconut oil processing, LPG stockyard, Piggery and Wallboard are within the industrial zone. So, the Environment Management Bureau takes a second look at the situation in the industrial zone and improves strict standards for effluent discharge and installs regular monitoring stations to safeguard the quality of the Taguibo River Water.
The influx of population in the lower reaches of the watershed is growing rapidly. With the growth of the industrial zone, a future urban sprawl might take over the present farmlands generating more pollution that may destroy the precious aquifer and put out of business the high-value and milkfish ponds near Magallanes. Due to the entry of land tillers looking for scarce land to farm. There was a discernible rise in population in the upland section. In the uplands farmers are planning to proceed to add to slash-and-burn farms (kaingin). CONDITION OF COASTAL AREA IN TAGUIBO RIVER WATERSHED
The Picture of turbidity level of the River after the destruction Taguibo River discharges its water through the Banza River before it reaches Butuan Bay. Banza River channels part of the Agusan River discharged in a circuitous route before it joins the estuary at Magallanes. At the confluence of the Taguibo and Banza channels, consultants of Nippon Koei Co. Ltd. (a Japanese consulting firm contracted the Cotabato-Agusan River Basin Development Project) have detected a serious siltation level that affects the flood control project for lower Agusan. This was concurred in by the DPWH Bureau of Design Director Gilberto S.
Reyes August 5, 2002 letter to Team Leader Yoshiro Motoki: “…it should be noted that if there are no countermeasures to be implemented to mitigate sediment transport along the stretches of Taguibo River, the problem of heavy siltation at the Taguibo River confluence would continuously occur and accumulate after every intense and heavy rainfall. As a result of this heavy siltation at the confluence, the local run-off from the affected areas designed to be drained by the proposed cut-off channel and Banza River towards Butuan Bay will not be effective. Obviously, the long-term solution to serious siltation should be directed to the upstream-situation of Taguibo Watershed. The alarm expressed by some barangay officials in Barangay Cabcabon finds resonance in the concern of prawn growers downstream of Taguibo River,specifically in Barangay Banza within Butuan City and in Barangays Taod-oy and Guiasan in Magallanes, Agusan del Norte. Fishkill phenomena will always be a threat as water-borne pollution is brought downstream to the estuary. For one, the breeding of Tiger prawns demands a high level of water purity.
The prawn farms around the Agusan River estuary provide the largest share of the export volume of Tiger prawns from the Philippines. TAGUIBO WATERSHED REHABILITATION Seedling to be planted on the Coastal Area of the Watershed The Taguibo Watershed rehabilitation aims to restore and improve the vegetative cover inside the watershed. This will be done by following various development interventions. Reforestation will be implemented on portion of open areas such as grassland areas to compensate for any vegetative deterioration.
Rapid growing species shall be used as planting materials such as mahogany and Falcata in order to be more productive in a shorter period of time. A scope of 189. 0 hectares within the second growth forest and 300. 0 ha within the brushland area shall be treated by means of assisted natural regeneration to increase forest stock. Activities to be undertaken include enrichment planting and timber stand improvement. Rattan plantation covering 400. 0 ha will be imposed in areas which are gently rolling to hilly with existing cultivations.
A combination of grafted durian and marang with mahogany and another combination of coffee, cacao, and calamansi will serve as the 2 kinds of agro forestry to be put up and these will be engaged in a total of 476. 0 ha. A bamboo plantation will be established along riverbanks within the watershed covering a total area of 293. 0 ha to reduce soil erosion and riverbanks scouring. This species has high water holding capacity, hence; planting along riverbanks and creeks is fairly suitable. A plantation of Bakauan, covering 50. 0 ha will be erected in open mangrove areas or swamplands.
TAGUIBO WATERSHED COMMUNITY ORGANIZING The meeting done for the Taguibo Watershed: Constructing a Time Frame In distributing the notion and properly assigning of skillful works, activities leading to community organization must be done. Community Organizing (CO) workers will undergo appropriate orientation and leveling-off in order to come up with ample approaches, methodologies, and CO strategies. This will also establish common development objective between the CO workers. Courtesy calls with Key Stakeholders within the Taguibo Watershed will pave the smooth entry of the project.
This will provide clarification on the concept, objectives, components, and other information relevant to the implementation of the project. This will establish rapport with concerned leaders of different sectors and occupants. House to house visits will also be done in order for the organizer and local communities to obtain a more specific and detailed exchange of ideas and overview of the project. Barangay council sessions and assembly meetings will provide feedbacks and impressions of local people on the progress of the project.
Trainings/Seminars will be conducted to improve the capability of the People’s organizations in aspects of organizational development, financial management, livelihood generation, soil and water conservation, watershed rehabilitation, protection and management. There will also be conduction of continuing information and education and communication so that people will get used to it and often seek more information. Core group formation will be undertaken in each of the barangay within the Taguibo Watershed.
Present or potential leaders will be identified, form the core group and shall serve as the counterpart of the project’s staff in planning, decision-making and implementing project activities. MAINTENANCE AND PROTECTION OF THE WATERSHED A walk for the Watershed done by the Different Agencies with the Youth A variety of activities will be undertaken in order to maintain the watershed’s beauty and to protect its vegetative cover as well as its present and upcoming forests. Sub-projects such as replanting, weeding, fertilizer application, fire break establishment will be put up.
There will also be stream bank stabilization, seedling distribution, livelihood generation. An overall protection of the watershed will be done as well wetland management. Maintenance and Evaluation will also proceed to assess the progress and development of the Taguibo Watershed project. MANAGAMENT STRATEGIES Showing of the Beauty of the Taguibo Area Management Zoning was adopted to further build a harmonious and more organized supervision of Taguibo River Watershed with the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Law considering that the headwater of Taguibo River was proclaimed as watershed forest reserve.
Strict Protection Zone. These are areas with high biodiversity value which is closed to all human activity and consists of the Second Growth Forest (SGF). With this, the SGF and brushland shall be protected and conserved. Agro-forestry plantation shall be established in high erosion risk areas to ensure soil upkeep and stabilization. Grassland areas shall be forested while Mangrove areas shall be subjected to bakauan plantations. Restoration Zone. This zone consists of open, denuded and degraded areas of the watershed.
This covers portions of brush land and so Assisted Natural Regeneration shall be employed. Sustainable Use Zone. This is where the habitat and its associated biodiversity are being conserved. Portions of SGF, grassland and established plantations make up the area. With this, Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) shall be done to enhance restocking of indigenous species, establishment of forest plantation to restore vegetative cover of the watershed and selective cutting of established plantations. This is a key to provide communities with livelihood and good income.
Multiple-Use Zone. Settlements, traditional and/or sustainable land use may be allowed in this zone. Aside from the establishment of Agro-forestry, the community is given the opportunity to participate in the sustainable management of Taguibo watershed while providing them a source of revenue in this zone. Witnessing Means Truth Report on the Site Visitation on the Alleged Illegal activities within the Taguibo Watershed Area, Anticala, Butuan City The concerned agencies act upon the call of protecting, saving the watershed from the greed of the selfish and self centred people.
This document was signed and reported on June 9, 2009 by the Members of the Composite Team which was submitted to the Head Officers of NCIP, DENR, MGB, EMB, NEDA, BCWD, ENRO, OFFICE OF THE CITY MAYOR, and CCPD. This serves as compliance on what was they agreed on their meeting dated on May 22, 2009. This includes the Team’s recommendation based on the partial findings on the gathered data and observation during the site visitation (covered by TOE) on May 26, 2009 in Anticala, Butuan City. During their visit, they was assisted and guided by former Brgy.
Captain Danilo Dandanon, a representative of the Anticala Tribal Council. As written above, the site visitation was covered by Terms of Engagement (TOE). Under the TOE, the members of the Team agreed 7 things. First, the Team shall not be guided by any previous situational reports, officially submitted to before the actual Site Visitation in the area. Second, whatever findings the team might have on its Site Visitation will be treated as separate and independent. Third, the team shall be purely fact finding in order to determine whether there are really activities of illegal road construction and illegal timber cutting.
Fourth, The visitation shall only be limited to the following areas: (1) CBFMA area of Kabuhay Tree Planters Assn. , inc. in a general northeasterly direction toward Sitio Malinhawod, RTR, A. D. N. ; (2) Road blockade before the road junction and Malinhawod Road (Utm coordinate 793980E, 999832N); (3) Purok Bugtong Salabay, Lakdayon, Bagonotan, Kitabao, Marinao all of Sitios Patagon, Anticala, Butuan City. Fifth, they shall not include in its findings whatever activities they might see on the RTR side while standing on Butuan City area.
Whatever activities on the said area shall be deal with separately and be treated as soon as the team shall have reached the same. Sixth, interviews on the areas are allowed, but the same shall be made with the presence of the other member of the Composite/Multi-Sectoral Team. Lastly, all activities observed in the areas shall be reported exactly as what they are. The Team arrived at around 7:30 AM using their respective vehicles but afterwards they rode to an open truck, called Sadam in order to reach the target area. A logbook was showed by Mr.
Peter Cabaton which shows records of all trucks loaded with manganese ores from the watershed. On their way going to the proclaimed Taguibo Watershed area, they saw a checkpoint which was manned by the couple Mr. and Mrs. Ambrocio Mambatac. This prohibited them from entering. The team negotiated to the couple and told that they already asked permission from Datu Buhay but the couple told them to ask permission to Mr. Roger Patanao and Mr. Erwin Plaza. Afterwards, Mrs. Mambatac said, “Ok si ma’am je, basta kutob ra sa boom. After a few minutes of negotiation, the Team was allowed to pass through; with a condition that they will not go beyond the other checkpoint. Along the way, markings on the area elevation of the watershed were found. They also found two (2) drum trucks and one (1) backhoe that were used in illegal road construction. The said activity was undertaken without the following: Environmental Compliance (ECC), Road Right of Way (RROW) Permit and Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) from the holders of CADC No. 178 pursuant RA 8371, Section 59 and existing NCIP rules and regulation.
The trucks’ plate numbers are MDH 544, MDK 246 while the backhoe is MONARK/CAT. In an interview, they found out that the drivers were employed by Mr. Rogelio Patanao. In addition, the team also noticed the quarry materials which blocked the Sadam from going further so they proceeded by foot while the others choose to stay. At the boundary, the Composite Team noticed a bunkhouse with a tarpaulin saying “Manobo – Mamanwa Triba; Council and Tribal Council of Datus of San Antonio Cooperative, Barangay San Antonio, RTRomualdez, Agusan Del Norte.
NO TRIBAL CONSENT, NO ENTRY STRICLY OBSERVED FROM THIS POINT SECTION 10 OF REPUBLIC ACT no. 8371, UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL INTRUSION. SECTION 59 OF REPUBLICT ACT no. 8371, CERTIFICATION PRECONDITION. Anyone who violates is punishable under this law. ” A signboard was also found with a writnings of, “Manobo – Mamanwa Triba; Council and Tribal Council of Datus of San Antonio Cooperative, Barangay San Antonio, RTRomualdez, Agusan Del Norte. NO TRIBAL CONSENT, NO ENTRY STRICLY OBSERVED FROM THIS POINT SECTION 10 OF REPUBLIC ACT no. 371, UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL INTRUSION. SECTION 59 OF REPUBLICT ACT no. 8371, CERTIFICATION PRECONDITION. Anyone who violates is punishable under this law. ”
They also found empty barrels of fuels on the yard. While the Team rested at the bunkhouse, the NCIP representative received a call reminding him not to go beyond the boundary. Otherwise, the security of the Team will be compromised as there were armed men allegedly waiting on the other side of the boundary. Afterwards, the grouped headed back to the truck. When the team moved out, heavy rains poured out.
The surface run-off occurred from the top ridge of the watershed area, passing through the gullies down to the Taguibo River, thus, increasing its turbidity level. Former Brgy. Captain Danilo Dandanon advised the team not to proceed to the area where there is an alleged illegal cutting of trees because it will take the whole day for the team to walk and reach it. Moreover, the forest products, illegally cut within the proclaimed Area were already in custody of DENR – Butuan City. Based on the findings and observation during the site visitation, the team raised some recommendation.
They recommended to STOP the road construction on the area because the proclaimed a watershed area was affected, the appropriate government agency shall issue the corresponding Cease and Desist Order (CDO) to ULMC, identifying the owner of the heavy equipment found and verify the equipments plate numbers with the DOTC-LTO, inviting the Barangay Anticala Tribal Council (ATC) and the Barangay Development Council to shed light on the on-going road construction within the proclaimed watershed area, and requesting a clearance from LGU- Butuan City to establish a composite checkpoint on the Barangay Anticala, Butuan City.
Furthermore, the recommendation on continuing the investigation to the illegal road construction and mining activities in Barangay San Antonio, RTR, Agusan Del Norte using the Tagubon – Malinhawod Road for this road-section is better compared to the one in RTR. Relatedly, requesting a clearance from the LGU- Butuan City to allow the team to pass through the Malinhawod Road. If not, they wanted to request the Philippine air Force (PAF) to use two (2) of its helicopters for the site visitation.
In conducting the site visitation, they must coordinate with the LGU- Agusan del Norte, LGU- RTR and Barangay San Antonio. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) must clear and secure the areas from Anticala to Malinhawod prior to conduct of the succeeding visitation. Lastly, for their safety, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will escort the team during the conduction of site visitation. Action: The 9/4/09 Fact Finding
Report on the Site Investigation on the Taguibo Watershed Issues Conducted on September 4, 2009 by the Task Force Watershed Composite Fact Finding Team A very sad and dramatic scene found by the Fact Finding Team The seemingly never ending noise and fears surrounding Taguibo Watershed’s current condition finally set the stage for various concerned fields to form a team and investigate a number of alleged illegal activities, namely Mining, Logging/timber poaching and roa named as Composite/Multi-sectoral Team d construction/rehabilitation.
The Task Force Watershed Composite Fact Finding Team (originally named as Composite/Multi-sectoral Team) or “Composite Team” was composed of the government and private institutions, specifically DENR 13, PENRO-Agusan del Norte, CENRO-Tubay, CENRO-Nasipit, CENRO-Bayugan, MGB, EMB, PIA, NEDA, CCPD, BCWD, LGU-Agusan del Norte, LGU-Agusan del Sur, LGU-BUtuan City, Save Taguibo Watershed Network, PNP, Philippine Army, and LGU-Barangay San Antonio. The team conducted the first site investigation on May 26, 2009 at a portion of the proclaimed watershed area under the jurisdiction of Butuan City.
It was on September 4, 2009 at approximately 5:20 a. m. when the Composite Team, composed of representatives from the said sectors were boarded on two “Sadam” trucks bound for Sitio Malinhawod, Brgy. San Antonio, RTRomualdez Agusan del Norte. Another Sadam Truck with about 25 PNP Personnel escorted the group which was accompanied by Dat Pantagan Gregorio Antong, the recognized Tribal Chieftain of Barangay San Antonio Tribal Council. Passing through the Barangays Anticala-Malinhawod road section, observations were noted. The task was first and foremost recognized with the following assurances highlighted: 1. Investigate the suspected illegal activities with the assurance that being a new and independent body, the Composite Team shall not be guided by the previous situational reports, gathered or acquired or officially submitted to before the actual site investigation, 2. )
Whatever findings of the composite team shall be treated as separate and independent, 3. )Interviews of the residents or persons that will be met in the area and securing of their affidavits will be allowed, provided that it will be done with the presence of other members of the Composite Team, 4. All activities and present situations/conditions of the area as observed shall be reported as they are, 5. ) Any matter that needs on-the-spot decision shall be made by the majority of the members, except on technical matters which shall be decided at all times by the DENR. The team noted the presence of Heavy Equipment in Sitio Tagubon, Brgy. Anticala, Butuan City. The existence of an illegally constructed road roughly 8-10 meters wide has also been verified, traversing from Sitio Tagubon in Brgy.
Anticala, Butuan City to some areas in Sitio Malinhawod in Brgy. San Antonio, RTRomualdez Agusan del Norte. It was illegal in the sense that the area is proclaimed a watershed and no permits were secured by the operators from the concerned government agencies such as Road Right of Way (RROW), permit from DENR, Environment Compliance Certificate (ECC) from EMB. Several uprooted/cut down trees were spotted as a result of widening, quarrying, gravelling and deepening/excavating. All of which are operations linked to road construction/rehabilitation.
Logs seemed to be used as road matting/corduroy to traverse creeks/wet areas with drainage canals noted in some portions of the road. Also, nine bunkhouses with falcate seedlings were noticed within the sorting area which indicates that the lumbers were utilized and were not marketed. The information gathered from the field pointed to the United Lumad Mining Corporation as the culprit, duly represented by its President Datu Paglaum and Roger Patanao. The alleged illegal mining activities were uncovered as well as the site investigation went on.
Approximately 230 MT of newly extracted manganese ores were found in the sorting area, areas 7, 9 and 6 (Area 7 is one of the abandoned mining areas of the Associated Mining Corporation (ASMINCO) which had long stopped due to low cost of manganese in the world market; Area 9 is a place where the American Tunnel is located, another abandoned mining area; Area 6 is located outside the proclaimed watershed area but near its boundary). 44 pieces of newly felled trees of various species covering 46. 52 cubic meters were noted, still believed to be a result of the road construction.
During the investigation, the Butuan City Water District (BCWD) took samples of water from creeks. Analysis is still ongoing. The findings were startling. Such Illegal activities, as noted by the Composite team, can cause soil erosion. The water from the watershed then becomes highly turbid to the extent that filters cannot strain the particles very well compared to normal conditions. Wildlife disturbance, resulting in from Road operations has its own magnitude. The road welcomes the influx of forest occupants/dwellers, as well as illegal loggers and miners.
As long as the communities lack awareness and knowledge of the watershed’s importance, the driving force to cast out and prevent any more unlawful acts will not be enough. The Composite team recommends that Mr. Roger Patanao of United Lumad Mining Corporation be issued a Cease and Desist Order by DENER for immediate stoppage of the unauthorized operations in the area, the filing of criminal charges and damages against the perpetrators be done as well as charges against ULMC for defiance of the CDO.
A composite checkpoint in every entrance/exit point of the Taguibo watershed, plus the implementation of the OPLAN PAKO on illegally cut logs/timber was suggested. The group urged the reactivation of the Taguibo Watershed Management Council (TWMC) with a more comprehensive plan which corresponds to the land uses. TWMC’s programs can benefit from funds obtained from the hopefully to be recovered illegally extracted manganese ores which will be surrendered to the government according to existing rules. A 200 meter buffer zone from the boundary of the watershed area is also being insisted upon.
The government might/concerned sectors might as well provide the Indigenous Cultural Communities with an alternative source of livelihood, strengthen their rights and responsibilities towards protecting the resources in the area. The Composite Team’s investigation which concluded at approximately 3:30 PM marked the start of the people’s awareness towards a bleeding Taguibo Watershed and hopefully a louder voice from the community. It is about time to fuel the now existing willpower to straighten the wrong. The Presidnet’s Proclamation: A Water Reserve Taguibo Watershed Proclaiming Document as a Water Source
The proclamation for a Protected water source was made legal by the Office of the President As a vanguard of protection to the seemingly vulnerable but ironically essential Taguibo watershed, the proclamation no. 1076 approved by the former president Fidel V. Ramos establishes itself as a mechanism for the maintenance as well as improvement of Butuan’s vital ecological system. Like the iron plates in a knight’s armor which intermesh together to form an impenetrable suit, it designates specific means of restriction to counteract inappropriate forest exploitation and destructive land- use.
Thus preserving the rich and vast majority of sustainable source of potable water and insuring the availability of the reservoir for the many generations to come. Protecting the Source of Life Healing The Earth Movement Ms. Chinchin Gutierrez Healing the Earth Concert was a Heart Melting Event, Making you fall in love with The Mother Earth The source of life, the cradle of biodiversity, the home of Mother Nature…all conveying what is known as the Taguibo Watershed. Taguibo watershed, Butuan City population’s only source of potable water has faced a lot of issues and controversies over the past few years.
This watershed, the link to living, experienced abuse in a lot of ways; illegal activities were done to its cost. In the 7th day of April, 2010, an environmental performance was held at the Father Saturnino Urios University Gymnasium to make the town people of Butuan City aware of what is happening, hopefully to awaken their sense of judgment. The guest speaker was an environmentally concerned multi-awarded actress and ambassador of Mother Earth as figuratively said, Ms. Chinchin Gutierrez.
To give the people a more comprehensible view of the unstable situation of the Earth, especially the Taguibo watershed itself, Father Saturnino Urios University in partnership with Butuan City Water District, ably produced the show that captured the theme “Healing the Earth”. This is in accordance with the BCWD’s 36th anniversary and the project of Save the Taguibo Watershed Network. The saying that big things start with a little prayer gave this event a realistic outlook. Unlike typical concerts full of dancing, singing and onstage acts, the Healing the Earth’s form of full show entertainment was rather educational.
Ms. Gutierrez, with the assistance of the talented dancers of FSUU, gave the audience a “flashback” of the good old green and unpolluted earth through the indigenous dances and native songs relaxing to the ears. All of which were done live. As students who witnessed the show with our attentive eyes and ears while Ms. Gutierrez gave lectures and showed picture slides of the earth’s current situation, we were both amused and saddened. According to her, the earth is at the state of 50/50, that nature is everything and everything that we hurt. That fact was heart breaking.
Then she encouraged us, not only the students and officials, but the whole Butuan City to act now, and do what is to be done, because there shall be no positive assurance of a safe environment as long as we don’t care for our resources. As the concert ended and as the stage curtains closed, our guest, a highly respected person who yet still dirtied her hands with mud to plant a tree surely gave us the impression that there is nothing to lose if we protect our source of life. In fact, there will be more to gain. Members of the team expresses their love and support at the concert as they write their sentiments on the free wall
The Truth about the Treasure of the Taguibo Watershed What You Need To Know About Mining in the Watershed Engr. Sangtian of the Butuan City Water District Discusses with the Team the Current Status of the Watershed, and their Actions for it, and How much he appreciated the Youth Participation Father Young, President of the Father Saturnino Urios University Shares He’s Own Experiences on his Fight To Save the Taguibo Watershed, Together with His team, He continued to convince the concerned agency to act on the dilemma of the dear water source.
The Earth’s crust is filled with treasures that help man become productive, prized possessions that are found buried beneath meters and meters of soil or encrusted in rock formations. These treasures are known to us humans as minerals – Diamond, Copper, Coal, and many other metallic and nonmetallic minerals. Although difficult to extract, these minerals are essential in different fields of livelihood and are therefore expensive. One of these many precious minerals is Manganese. Manganese is a naturally occurring metal found in rocks. It can be combined with different kinds of substances to make organic or inorganic materials.
But the primary reason why Manganese is mined extensively is because it is essential for steel production. It is a key component for low-cost stainless steel formulations and a wide range of aluminum alloys. It is also used in the making of decolorized glass, disinfectants, fertilizers and ceramics. The Taguibo Watershed’s coast and its nearby mountain covering is a very rich source of Manganese and illegal miners have been quick to harness this mineral. Although the watershed has been proclaimed a forest reserve, illegal mining activities have been occurring in the area over the past few years.
According to the findings of the Task Force Watershed Composite Fact Finding Team during their site investigation on September 4, 2009, approximately 230 MT of newly extracted Manganese ores were found in several areas in the watershed. Thus, confirming the presence of illegal mining within the watershed. These mining activities have slowly but seriously damaged the Taguibo River Watershed. For the transport of the mined Manganese, a road was illegally constructed within the watershed area. In the course of road construction, trees were cut down for the opening and widening of the road.
The displacement of earth from the construction led to soil erosions, sedimentation and siltation. Also, the runoff of the excavated soil also affected the turbidity of the water in the watershed. Aside from these, the mining of Manganese within the watershed area poses a more dangerous problem: Water pollution due to manganese exposure. Waste material from mining sites may easily be carried by runoff water into the watershed. Manganese may be essential to the human body when taken in limited amount but when manganese content in water exceeds 0. 5 mg/L it can significantly put a high risk on human health.
In most cases this event can cause respiratory and brain malfunction. When this happens, it will threaten the lives of many Butuanons, most especially the poor who drink water from the tap. Knowing more about manganese, one can conclude that it is important in our lives but it can also be harmful to us when not handled properly. The harnessing of minerals for practical uses may be reasonable but because of greed, man cannot fully see what the metal manganese is fully capable of. It has been a while since the illegal road construction was started in the coast and nearby mountains of Taguibo watershed which resulted to forest depletion.
By overlooking and ignoring the delicate balance of nature and its treasures, many lives were put at stake – the lives of over 300,000 Butuanons and the very life of the Taguibo River itself. Due to the large profit in the selling of minerals, many are drawn to the business of mining. However, greed easily gets the better of us. We must wake up, get involved and help rehabilitate before we end up like the farmer in the story of the Golden Goose; we wait idly by for our golden egg, we consume and consume, and in our hunger and greed, we kill the goose, we destroy the very source of our blessings only to find that there is nothing left of it.
