Famed waterfalls thriving with a little help

THE FAMED Hinulugang Taktak waterfalls in Antipolo City, site of many an “excursion” decades ago, is fast regaining its old beauty and cleanliness.

On Friday—Earth Day—the Antipolo local government, together with the US Embassy and SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, planted 1,000 bamboo saplings at the sprawling falls compound as part of the park’s continuing rehabilitation.

More than 200 people—Antipolo City high school students, Rizal provincial officials and US Embassy personnel and their children—took part in the tree planting at the Hinulugang Taktak Protected Landscape (HTPL) in Sitio Sampaguita, Barangay Sta. Cruz.

Antipolo City Councilor Ronald Barcena, US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Klecheski and SM Cares program director for sustainability Liza Silerio led the early morning activity.

In his speech, Klecheski said the American mission had always supported local environmental projects.

He said celebrating Earth Day had become necessary with the environmental degradation going on all over.

“We all have to deal with the problems of the environment, and so for many years we have been celebrating Earth Day by doing something for the environment. We are glad there is so much activism and so much awareness of the environment, especially among young people and we hope you continue this tradition,” he said.

Hinulugang Taktak was declared a national park in 1990 and a protected landscape in 2000. But it suffered through years of environmental degradation due to illegal settlers living along its tributaries.

Violete Faiyaz, HTPL rehabilitation program head, said the park had come a long way from 2010 when the restoration program started.

She said the falls water had become cleaner after some 100 families were relocated from its tributaries.