KAINGIN-DESTROYED IPO FOREST AND WATERSHED

RESERVATION

A feedback report for MWSS.

This is an independent feedback report of the field investigation and assessment conducted by the

composite Team created pursuant to DENR Special Order No. 466-2004

AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATION & ASSESSMENT

• DENR Special Order No. 466-2004 dated July 5, 2004 signed by Sec. Guzon

• MWSS Office Order No. 94-2004 dated July 15, 2004 signed by MWSS Adm.Orlando C. Hondrade

COVERAGE OF INVESTIGATION AND

ASSESSMENT • Evaluation of the Usufruct areas which were granted by DENR to its employees

•Determine the extent of the damaged caused by Kaingin

•Survey and census of residents•Other matters related thereto.

BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE MANAGEMENT OF IPO WATERSHED

Proclamation No. 391 dated April 30, 1968 by then Pres. Ferdinand E.Marcos.

It provides Joint Administration by the Director of Forestry and the NWSA General Manager (now MWSS).

MWSS have been actively administering Ipo Watershed Reservation in the security, protection, and preservation through its then Water Sources and Treatment Dept. (WSTD).

The Advent of RA 8041(Water Crisis Act

of 1995) as implemented by E.O. 286. • Privatized MWSS• The obligations of MWSS towards the Ipo

watershed in the management, protection, sustainable development and rehabilitation were not clearly defined in the Concession Agreement (CA) and/or assign the same to the concessionaires.

• Thus, DENR took the cudgels of the management, protection and rehabilitation of the Ipo forest and watershed reservation since 1997.

“USUFRUCT Project”• Approved sometime in 2000 by then DENR

Secretary Cerrilles

• It was intended to encourage DENR employees to plant fruit-bearing trees to the open (pocket) spaces of the Ipo watershed reservation.

DENR’s MGT & PROJECTS IN IPO WATERSHED RESERVATION

Feedback on the Impact of DENR’s Usufruct and Reforestation Projects

• It was found out that the Usufruct project/program was the major cause of the massive kaingin activities in Ipo watershed reservation.

• It triggered the invasion of informal settler-cultivators to the forest.

The kaingin areas has been transformed into some kind of agricultural farm lots. Tillers Devoted it to fruit-bearing trees plantation i.e., upland rice farming, cornfields, root crops & vegetable gardening (cash crops).

Areas that were hit by the massive Kaingin within the Ipo forest and watershed

reservation. • Anahaw area – 130 has. more or less;• Sapang Catmon – 80 has. More or less;• Mount Maranata – 150 has. More or less;• Mount Balagbag - 400 has. More or less;• Sapang Baliwag - 100 has. More or less;• Sapang Anginan - 120 has. More or less;• Sapang Munti - 150 has. More or less;• Mataas na buhangin – 80 has. More or less; and • many more

OVERALL ESTIMATED OPEN AREA INCLUDING THOSE DESTROYED BY

KAINGIN IN IPO WATERSHED RESERVATION.

• Estimated Original Open – 15%• Estimated Destroyed by kaingin - 55%

• Total Open Space 60-70% of the 6,600 hectares of IPO reservation.

• A very alarming extent of damaged from 2002-2005.

Census of Residents

• Dumagat – 39 Families• New Settlers- 103 Families• Cultivators(ambulant) or the kaingeros -

105 individuals

Inventory of Boats operating at Ipo watershed as means of

transport and fishing

Motorized – 25 Units

Not Motorized – 26 units

The DENR’s RESOURCES FOR IPO

Watershed Protection

Only 4 warm bodies are assigned to conduct needed foot patrol from DENR to forest of Ipo.

• DENR Forest guards do not conduct regular patrol to the forest of the watershed.

•Patrol lacks necessary logistical needs, firearms, equipment & communication system.

• Inadequate augmentation from MWSS, MWSI and MWCI

OTHER PROBLEMS• Existence of logging syndicate. Allegedly with

participation of of some workers assigned at the Ipo Dam. They are timber and charcoal traders.

• Increasing number of informal settlers-cultivator residing the forest and the kaingin areas.

• Presence of gold/treasure hunting within the watershed.

• Distribution or award of the lands of Ipo watershed by NCIP, DENR and other govt agencies.

IPO WATERSHED RESERVATION CAN NOT WAIT ANOTHER YEAR OF

FOREST DESTRUCTION.

CURRENT ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

• Sustainability: Protection, Rehabilitation and Preservation

• Transfer the jurisdiction of Ipo forest and watershed reservation to the stewardship of MWSS, like the Angat watershed to Napocor, the Forest of Subic to SBMA

• Review CADT. Land allocated to Dumagat and now occupied by retired Military personnel at Mt. Balagbag in Ipo watershed

ACTION PLAN

PHASE I* Creation of Ipo Watershed Task Force (MWSS, MWCI & MWSI)* Multi Stakeholder Partnership

* Information Campaign and consultation with settler-cultivators of Ipo watershed

PHASE II* Demolition, Evacuation and/or Resetlement

PHASE III* Take-over on the Management of Ipo

forest and watershed reservation.

PHASE IV- REFORESTATION

WATERSHED PROTECTION NEEDS

• COMMUNICATION SYSTEM (2-WAY RADIOS)

• FIREARMS (M16 at least 6 units)• Telescopes• GPS Units

PERSONNEL AND LOGISTICAL NEEDS

30 Security Personnel (Ipo Patrol)

The Ipo Watershed Territorial Area

Veterans at mount Balagbag

Ipo Dam

Kaingin areas

Usufruct areas

A 40 has upland rice,root crops and vegetable farming at Sapang Baliwag

Remnants of huge dipterocarph trees at Sapang Baliwag. About 9 has. wide

Taken on aerial inspection. Mount Maranat Area April 26, 2004. This is for ground inspection by the Team.

A 9 hectare cornfield at Mataas na Buhangin

n

Fresh Cut Tree at Sapang Munti. The members of the team over heard on 21 July

2004 at 12:00PM chain saw machine cutting this tree. This is red narra.

Fresh Cut Tree in the midst of the forest at Sapang Paco

Invasion of settlers to Mount Balagbag (Known as Veterans)There are 200 to 250

families now residing

A 15 has. Upland Rice and Vegetables Farm at Sapang baliwag

A 15 hectare kaingin at Mataas na Buhangin. Destroyed also were the

newly planted seedlings

17-hectare wide kaingin with dipterocarph species trees razed to the ground.

A 30 has kaingin now a cornfield and upland rice farm.

A newly cut tree. Dipterocarph species along ipo river. That’s the crown area of

the tree having 2-ft diameter.

A 30 has upland rice farm. Debris of kaingin trees at sapang munti

The top of mount maranat which is covered by cogon and bamboo shrubs.

1 meter diameter 38 ft long timber at sapang anginan. A 10 hectare kaingin

Remnants of kaingin trees

LET US SAVE WATERSHED RESERVATIONS

THIS IS WHERE OUR WATER IS COMING FROM

Thank You