Inquirer Southern Luzon
The resurrection of Banahaw waterfalls
By Delfin Mallari Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:49:00 03/26/2008
LUCENA CITY – Long-lost water sources are gushing back to life from the bosom of Mount Banahaw in Quezon province, thanks to collective efforts to protect and rehabilitate the mystical mountain for the past four years.
“The once dried Kristalino Falls has now a refreshing mini-lagoon at its base. The sight of cascading cool water is fantastic,” Sally Pangan, a protected area supervisor for Banahaw-San Cristobal, told the Inquirer in a phone interview on Tuesday. Her office is under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Pangan also revealed that the other waterfalls, like the “Suplina” and the “Salaming-Bubog,” had been experiencing “rebirths” of crystal-clear currents. “The return of mountain water is the collective tribute of Mount Banahaw stakeholders to this year’s celebration of World Water Day,” she said.
‘Vulcan de Agua’
In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly designated March 22 as “World Water Day” to draw international attention to the critical lack of clean and safe drinking water worldwide. But in deference to the observance of Holy Week, the Philippine celebration was moved to March 26.
Banahaw has been known as “Vulcan de Agua,” traversed by seven rivers – Balayong, Maimpis, Liliw, Dalitiwan, Malinao, Nagcarlan and San Diego. The river system snakes around the mountain and nearby Mount San Cristobal, providing water for domestic, irrigation and recreational uses.
Some rivers are also believed to have “medicinal and healing power,” like the Kinabuhayan River in Dolores town.
Irresponsible practices
Pangan attributed the phenomenon to the regeneration of the lush mountain vegetation, which for decades had been victims of man’s irresponsibility. Slash-and-burn (“kaingin”) farming had taken its toll on the fragile watersheds, drying up springs, falls and other traditional water sources of lowland communities.
Banahaw had also been subjected to the destructive practices of pilgrims and other visitors.
In the summer of 2004, the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) sealed off with barbed wire several trails leading to the heart of Banahaw as part of a five-year program to restore its natural resources.
Quezon Rep. Proceso Alcala has introduced alternative livelihood projects for hundreds of “kaingin” farmers. They now plant vegetables, most of them organic, which they sell at the Sentrong Pamilihan ng Produktong Agrikultura ng Quezon Foundation Inc. in Sariaya town.
Sustainable supply
Manny Calayag, Dolores municipal environment and natural resources officer, said the refreshing sight of flowing mountain water indicated the success of the closure project.
“But we have to continue our collective efforts to ensure a sustainable water supply for our people,” he said in a phone interview from Liliw town in Laguna. The PAMB was then meeting to evaluate the project during the Holy Week.
Holy Week fatalities
At least two persons died in Banahaw during last week’s pilgrimage. One had a heart attack while the other succumbed to cancer in the mountain village of Kinabuhayan in Dolores, Calayag said. The victims, who were both sick, had gone to the sacred mountain hoping for a miracle.
This year, Calayag said, the number of pilgrims and mountaineers who came surpassed the previous year’s figure. “They all came as if the mountain was not off limits. But they all stayed outside the restricted area, except for some trespassers,” he said.
More than 30 people who strayed into the prohibited area were arrested.
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