MANILA, Philippines — An environmental group urged the government on Friday to stop high-risk projects within the Marikina watershed that might endanger the lives of residents living in the area.

In a statement, the EcoWaster Coalition said all land conversion and waste disposal activities within the watershed may lead to disasters like landslides.

The appeal was made just as the country observes Disaster Awareness Month this July.

“The massive land conversion of the Marikina watershed and the mountains of Rizal is putting families in danger, especially those living near riverbanks and mountain slopes,” warned Noli Abinales of Buklod Tao, a community-based organization based in San Mateo, Rizal.

“As the country is in the brink of more climatic disasters due to global warming, we are appealing to the DENR to act quickly and stop the further destruction of the environment.”

The group also asked Environment Secretary Lito Atienza to supplement environmental management programs by integrating disaster prevention modules to enhance the protection of citizens living in high-risk disaster areas like San Mateo.

In a 2000 study conducted by the National Institute for Geological Studies of the University of the Philippines, it was revealed that the surrounding mountains of San Mateo are classified as Zone 1 or high risk for landslides and “mass wasting.”

Also, an environmental constraint map of San Mateo showed 13 of the town’s 15 barangays as prone to flooding, the group said.

Buklod Tao laid the blame on powerful corporations engaged in housing projects and quarry operations who they said were leveling the mountains of Rizal for years.

For his part, Rei Panaligan of the EcoWaste Coalition assailed the construction of a new “sanitary” landfill in San Mateo that could contaminate the water supply with leachate, the toxic “garbage juice” which forms within waste materials.