2008-0926 independent report on the state of ipo watershed

8/14/2019 2008-0926 Independent Report on the State of Ipo Watershed

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An Independent Report on theState of Ipo Watershed

Prepared by a composite team comprising ofmembers of the Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society,

UP Mountaineers Environmental Committee,Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines andconcerned individuals.

On August 2, 2008, a composite teamcomprised of members of the Sagip SierraMadre Environmental Society, University ofthe Philippines Mountaineers, andMountaineering Federation of the Philippineswent on a fact finding mission to IpoWatershed, located in Norzagaray, Bulacan.

Their intention was to document human

activities within the watershed and its impact on the continued viability of IpoWatershed as source of 12% of Metro Manilas water supply.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, IpoWatershed with an area of 6,600 hectares is 70% denuded. The damage wasattributed to illegal logging, slash and burn farming or kaingin, charcoal making,and the expansion of informal settlements within the area.

The remaining 30% forest cover, is seriouslythreatened by intensified logging and kainginwithin the watershed brought upon by anever increasing population of informal settlersliving within the boundaries of the watershed.

The picture below shows the path taken bythe composite team through the watershed.Each point along the trail as shown wasrecorded by a global positioning device. The

trail took the team along and across Pako and Anginan River, along and oversteep ridges for two days.

Comment: According to informgathered by UPMEncom, 12 milli

Metro Manila Residents depend on

surface water sources and aquifer for its water supply. Surface wateup 65% of the total water supply.

65%, 12% comes from Ipo Dam.

This point needs to be clarified.

Comment: Secretary Atienza dethe veracity of this figure. In the b

hearing of DENR last September 22008, Secretary Atienza stated tha

believe that the actual figure is thereverse of what this report claims.

It is interesting to note though that

figures being cited by this report cfrom a 2004 joint study by the ForManagement Bureau of DENR andMWSS.

Comment: Larry Morales of MFprovided the hardware and technicexpertise in using GPS to map, pladocument the expedition.


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Track of the composite teams 2 day hike shown in magenta. Note the location of Angat and Ipo Dam in the map.

Along the way, the team found approximately 90 sawn wood or "tablon" floatingor being floated down the river or left along the trails. Photographs were eventaken of numerous tablon being transported on local boats.

A parade of sawn wood.

Comment: Photos are digital. Tare embedded with data such as casettings, date and time.


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Position: N14-52.800-E121-10.243

They were able to document and take geographic position data of more than 12kaingin sites of about 2 hectares each. The usual crops that were found wereupland rice being grown on steeply angled terrain. Kaingin farming is veryinefficient and unsustainable. It only allows one viable harvest before the topsoilis eroded and leaves the area unsuitable for planting the next seasons crops.

Kaingin Site. Position: N14-52.809-E121-11.140


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Foreground showing upland rice variety.

The team also encountered around 30 century old tree stumps which were cutonly recently along the route taken. Furthermore, the team heard the distinctsound of chainsaws 3 times along the way in different areas.

Trees you cant even wrap your arms around are cut down and made into a few planks.


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The team encountered about 21 persons transporting illegally sawn wood. Theteam had grown accustomed to people carrying or floating tablon down the river,to run away to hide their faces and leave their wood behind whenever the teamapproached them.

Tablon and work area hastily abandoned once the workers heard our approach. Position: N14-52.797-E121-10.252

Interestingly, the team encountered tablon being hauled out of Ipo River fromboats less than a kilometer away from the security group of Ipo Dam and the

military detachment assigned to secure the dam facility.


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Right under their noses. This picture was taken a mere 700m away from Ipo Dam.Position: Waypoint 006at the map above.

The most disheartening fact is that most of the tablon were floated and collectedat the Anginan log pan where many well-meaning private organizations andgroups in Metro Manila had a contract with the local people to assist them inreforesting denuded areas, as well as to help in protecting newly planted trees.

The group estimate, based on the amount of activity going on within thewatershed and the sheer lack of any measure to protect or even manage thewatershed, that Ipo Watershed will be completely denuded within 5 years time.

One of the numerous kaingin sites that the composite team was able to document.


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In principle, no human activity should be allowed within watersheds. Farming even if it were subsistence, raising livestock or poultry, all contribute to thedegradation of the water supply due to contamination by runoff water. Theclearing of trees inevitably leads to soil erosion which deposits heavy silt on theupstream side of dams, adversely affecting its water holding capacity. Theincreased reflectivity of sunlight from barren land warms up the atmosphere,reduces and disperses clouds, and may eventually cause a decrease in rainfall.Trees keep the water supply in a watershed intact. Likewise, heavily silted waterplaces undue strain on water treatment infrastructures making it much moreexpensive to bring clean water into households.

Every activity that should not be allowed in watersheds are actually happeningwithin the boundaries of Ipo Watershed at alarming frequencies. If these areallowed to continue and no action is taken to reverse the damage done, thenMetro Manila will have to bear with rising cost of potable water, disruption insupplies, and unrest amongst the poor who may no longer be able to afford thecost of having clean water brought to their homes.

The team believes there is a need for the Department of Environment and

Natural Resources to be held accountable for the continued rampant destructionand unregulated activities within the Ipo Watershed.

Comment: We feel that DENR mheld accountable for its lack of con

action to address illegal logging anillegal settlements within the Ipo

Watershed.

However, on a more constructive n

we also believe that DENR needs help it can get to receive a budget tcould support intensified operation

preserve and protect our remainingforests and watersheds.

As it stands, the Department still b

that the best way to address the isssurrounding Ipo is to create a Taskonce again to look into the problem

Ipo needs forest guards who would

actually guard the watershed. Tneed to be deputized, be well-fund

well-equipped. Ipo needs fences tout informal settlers whose idea offarming is to burn whole mountainIt needs funding to survey inhabita

relocate people who have no right there.

Ipo needs a clearer legal frameworits management and for prosecutin

illegal loggers, miners and perpetrother such unauthorized activities the watershed.

Finally, it needs funding and the

awareness of people in Metro Manhow important Ipo Watershed is towell-being and future, in its rehabiand subsequent rainforestation(reforestation with endemic and lo

varieties, rather than fast growing highly invasive foreign varieties).

2008-0926 independent report on the state of ipo watershed

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