NATURAL GUARDIAN The Sierra Madre mountains, seen from the eastern side of Metro Manila, is the longest mountain range in the Philippines and serves as a barrier protecting the eastern side of Luzon from storms. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — The Sierra Madre Mountain Range must be protected and its preservation must be included in the national government disaster mitigation plan.
Senatorial aspirant Benjamin Abalos Jr. made this call on Monday as he pointed out the critical role of the Sierra Madre in the country’s disaster resilience.
“Now more than ever, we are seeing how important it is to preserve Sierra Madre’s ecosystems,” the former interior secretary said in a statement.
“Might as well call it the lifeblood of our country’s environmental and disaster resilience as, time and time again, the Sierra Madre has proven that it is not just a mountain range but our shield, our defense against powerful storms that cause floods, landslides, and storm surges,” he also said.
The Sierra Madre Mountain Range – standing 6,283 feet and spanning more than 540 kilometers – is Luzon’s natural fortress. It’s the region’s armor against typhoons from the Pacific Ocean, as the mountain range’s significant elevation helps slow down storm systems, ensuring more even rainfall distribution.
READ: Why Sierra Madre deserves more of our attention
Abalos said many communities would face even more significant threats from typhoons and heavy rainfall without the Sierra Madre.
He urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to take action against reports of illegal logging operations in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range because such illicit activity “degrades the integrity of the mountain range.”
He stressed that “stronger enforcement of environmental protection laws” in the Sierra Madre region should be implemented.
The former interior secretary also appealed to local government units to take proactive steps in adequately managing and rehabilitating forest areas.
He emphasized that adopting sustainable practices in agriculture, mining, and tourism is essential for the long-term preservation of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.
“We cannot afford to ignore the threats that illegal activities pose to our natural defenses. The Sierra Madre must be safeguarded against all forms of exploitation,” he said.