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A Mass Tree Planting Activity on Mt. Balagbag

Aling Julmas MiniStop Store
July 17, 2016

BACKGROUND
On July 1, 2016, o video of the path leading to Aling Julmas MiniStop store (GPS coordinates:
1449'41.04"N12110'10.15"E) was posted in Facebook by hikers who frequently visit the area. The
drastic changes in the area prompted mountaineers involved in volunteer reforestation activities in
different areas in Ipo Watershed to bring this matter up to the authorities. What was once a foot path
has now become a road wide enough to fit two medium-size vehicles side by side. Checking the GPS
coordinates of this road, it was found out that it fell within the boundary of Ipo Watershed. Upon
verification with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), it was additionally
determined that no Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and no Environmental Compliance Certificate
(ECC) were done prior to the construction. The construction entailed uprooting a number of trees and
flattening the ground with the aid of heavy machinery, particularly a back-hoe excavator. As an
expected result of the ground moving activities and the removal of trees, soil erosion will take place at
a higher and faster rate. There is no more vegetative cover and the ground is exposed. This will result
in more soil flowing into the streams leading to Ipo River downstream during the rainy season. The
resulting: siltation of the water stored in Ipo Dam, the source of water for Metro Manila. Mt. Balagbag
is already struggling to survive. Problems such as timber poaching, slash-and-burn farming, forest arson
and charcoal-making already severely threaten the area on a daily basis. This new road will add to
this list of problems as well as bring about an accessibility to the area. The impact will be severe.

The head of the Bantay Gubat in Mt. Balagbag pointing at a tree that was uprooted without a
permit from the DENR. What used to be foot trail leading to Aling Julmas store is now a road
that can accommodate two vehicles side by side.
GPS coordinates: 1449'37.87"N12110'3.96"E

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INITIAL ACTIONS
An effort was undertaken to protest this road construction threatening this important watershed.
Jonathan de la Cruz and Aiji Marie Torrefranca acted as the lead organizers for the
#ReforestTheRoad initiative. They sought the help of their friends who regularly visit Mt. Maranat and
those who are members of Maranat Environmental Society, Inc. (MESI). They also approached the U.P.
Mountaineers (UPM), Sagip Kagubatan (SK) and CLIMBER for added support. After several face-to-
face and online meetings, it was agreed by the lead organizers and the assistant organizers that the
trees to be planted would come from some of the backyard seedling nurseries of UPM members, tree
nurseries from the Dumagats of Ipo Dam, donations from members of the Philippine Native Plants
Conservation Society, Inc. (PNPCSI) and from Mt. Maranat. This activity made the plight visible to the
DENR resulting in the current suspension of the road construction.

PLANTING DAY 17 JULY, 2016

In support of this action initiated by Jonathan and Aiji, members of the U.P. Mountaineers brought
native tree saplings that were at least 3 feet tall. These were planted close to the store of Aling Julma.
Members of MESI helped in the digging of holes and making bamboo sticks that would serve as
markers for the young trees. During the latter part of the tree planting event, additional tree wildings
that were about a foot tall were brought in by Jonathan and company from Mt. Maranat. They
collected the wildlings of native mango variety (Mangifera altissima a.k.a. Pahutan) in the early
morning of the event to make sure that these wildlings will have a lower mortality rate. There were
more or less 300 Pahutan wildlings brought in from Mt. Maranat. No tree saplings came in from Ipo
Dam because of transportation constraints.

Volunteers from different groups planting native trees brought by the U.P. Mountaineers on the road near
Aling Julmas store to repair the damage done by the illegal road construction in Ipo Watershed.
GPS coordinates: 1449'40.74"N12110'8.55"E

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During the event, some of the organizers were interviewed on camera by a news crew from ABS-CBN
who joined the tree planting activity. However, this was not televised for unknown reasons. After the
last tree was planted, a certain caretaker named Albert, approached the organizers and complained
about the planting of trees. He said that the land was owned by his landlord. The organizers together
with the Bantay Gubat rangers who escorted the volunteers explained that that the area where the tree
planting took place is within Ipo Watershed and that any development in the area should have the
approval of DENR, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and the National Council
for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). To settle the issue, it was also recommended to the caretaker that his
landlord should set a meeting with DENR and other concerned government agencies.

All in all, a total of 379 native tree seedlings and saplings were planted by more than 70 volunteers in
the entire stretch of road from the boundary of Ipo Watershed to Aling Julmas store. Kindly see
attachment for the GPS coordinates of the planted trees which were recorded and documented by a
GIS expert from the UPM.

RECOMMENDATIONS SUSTAINING THE EFFORT

Since reforestation is just 10% tree planting and 90%, tree nurturing, it is highly recommended that
hikers be allowed access to this illegally constructed road within Ipo Watershed so they can volunteer
to take care of the young trees until they are self-sufficient. Weeding and grass cutting during the
rainy season is needed while watering and applying mulch during the dry season is necessary for the
survival of the trees. Hikers who visit Mt. Balagbag should also be encouraged to help in the efforts for
the #ReforestTheRoad initiative.

It is further recommended that stakeholders and government agencies should sit down and talk to each
other so they can decide whether penalties should be given to the proponent of the road since some
environmental laws were violated. Trees that were felled should be replaced. The managers of Ipo
Watershed should also start implementing an effective management for the forests.

The Bantay Gubat forest rangers should also regularly patrol the area to make sure that no more road
construction will take place within Ipo Watershed. They should be well funded so they can sustain their
forest monitoring activities. Without forest rangers protecting the planted trees, unscrupulous people
may just continue to inflict damage of the trees in the reforestation areas on Mt. Balagbag. The
regular presence of the Bantay Gubat will deter locals from doing illegal activities in the watershed. In
fact, as long as there is genuine forest protection, there is no need to plant trees anymore. A forest can
regenerate on its own even without human intervention just as long as there are no people causing
destruction.

To make more people aware of the plight of Ipo Watershed especially the construction of
roads without the permission of DENR and MWSS, an online petition was created by Aiji. The
petition can be found in this link: https://www.change.org/p/denr-stop-illegal-road-
construction-inside-ipo-watershed

All these efforts are envisioned to maintain and sustain the trees planted as well as encourage
other like-minded people and organizations to exert efforts if not to plant, to nurture these
seedlings. The repair of the damage done benefits not only the local area, but the wider area
of Metro Manila by working to provide a silt-free water source.

PREPARED BY:
Frederick Ochavo
U.P. Mountaineers

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LOCATION OF THE FIRST #ReforestTheRoad TREE PLANTING SITE

Before the road construction

After the road construction

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Before the road construction

After the road construction

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