Creation of village in South Cotabato protected area stirs concerns

Mt. Matutum, the landmark peak of South Cotabato, beckons from a vantage point in highland Barangay Assumption in Koronadal City in this photo taken on February 16, 2021. PHOTO BY BONG S. SARMIENTO

GENERAL SANTOS CITY —  Voters in Tupi town of South Cotabato will vote tomorrow, July 13, in a plebiscite to create a new village amid concerns by environmentalists that the proposed village would be within the Mt. Matutum Protected Landscape (MPPL).

Named after the grandfather of South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., Barangay Juan-Loreto Tamayo will be formed from Linan, Miasong, and Cebuano villages of Tupi. Once ratified, it will be the 16th barangay of the 70-year-old town.

The proposed barangay, according to the environmentalists, is within the 15,600-hectare MPPL.

READ: New orchid species boosts forest protection drive in South Cotabato

The Save Mt. Matutum Protected Landscape (SMMPL) expressed fears that a new village would attract people or investors, which could further deteriorate the area’s natural protected landscape.

On May 21, Tupi Mayor Romeo Tamayo, uncle of the governor, informed Linan chairperson Reynaldo Alburo Jr. of the conduct of a plebiscite through a letter with an attached copy of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 10993, which sets the campaign period, including the holding of barangay assemblies and pulong pulong from June 22 to July 11, and the plebiscite period and a gun ban from June 13 to July 20.

Bren Tamayo, secretary to the mayor and designated Tupi tourism officer, said the creation of Barangay Juan-Loreto Tamayo, had been pushed in this city since the current governor was the municipal mayor.

Governor Tamayo served as Tupi mayor for three terms from 2010 to 2019. He also said the proposed village had been populated mostly by the indigenous B’laan.

STMMPL expressed concern over “the massive and continuing selling of forest lands, the proliferation of business establishments, development of a millionaire’s village and illegal constructions of buildings and houses despite the notice of violations and stoppage orders issued by Mt. Matutum Protected Area Management Board” in the area.

The protected landscape is covered by Republic Act 11038 or the Enhanced Integrated Protected Area System Act (E-NIPAS), designed to enhance biological diversity and is protected against human exploitation.

The group urged the Senate and the House of Representatives to conduct an investigation “to arrest the continuing destruction and seemingly deliberate alteration of the natural beauty of Mt. Matutum.”

Inquirer sought Efren C. Hibaler, protected area superintendent (Pasu) of the Mt. Matutum Protected Landscape (MMPL) for comments on Thursday, but he did not return calls.

Richel Castor, Comelec-Tupi election assistant officer 2, said in a separate phone interview that the proposed Barangay Juan-Loreto Tamayo would have a land area of 2,304.58 hectares.

Of that size, at least 1,489.78 would be taken from Barangay Miasong, 292.25 hectares from Barangay Cebuano and 522.55 hectares from Barangay Linan, she added.

The three villages have at least 9,765 registered voters, Castro said.

She said the creation of the new village would be ratified if more than 50 percent of the votes favor the measure.