Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 10:23:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: owner-irn-sanroque@netvista.net
subject: LS: Pangasinan villagers urge dike to protect them from floodings
URL: http://www.inq7.net/reg/2001/jul/21/text/reg_4-1-p.htm
Pangasinan villagers urge dike to protect them from floodings
Posted:10:03 PM (Manila Time) | July 20, 2001
Inquirer News Service
SAN MANUEL, Pangasinan--Fearing they would face massive flooding like what
they experienced when Typhoon "Feria" struck two weeks ago, residents of
Barangay San Vicente here asked the San Roque Project Corp. (SRPC) to build
a dike along the Agno River bank.
This came after the SRPC announced plans to quarry sand and gravel in the
village for its $1-million San Roque Dam project.The residents said they fear
the quarrying activities would worsen the flooding in their village.
Barangay San Vicente, which is near another quarry area of the San Roque
Dam, was submerged under 10-foot floods when Typhoon Feria struck. Barangay
chair Bonomo Apuyod said the flooding could have been caused by the quarrying
activities in Barangay Narra.
"Because Narra was protected by a dike, water from the Agno River flowed
freely into our barangay. If quarrying starts in our barangay, for sure
flooding will get worse if there will be another typhoon," Apuyod said.
The SRPC, however, said it was not committed to build dikes along the Agno
River bank before engaging in quarry activities, based on the contract
between the project proponents and the government.
"The Department of Public Works and Highways and the local governments are
responsible for controlling floods in San Manuel," Raymund Cunningham, SRPC
project director, said.
"From the technical insights available to us, the San Roque multi-purpose
dam project had no negative impact on the flooding in San Manuel over the
past two seasons but had reduced flooding there instead," he said.
"Flooding in the barangay would have been significantly worse had there been
no excavation of sand and gravel for the dam project." The dam was designed
to irrigate thousands of hectares of farms in the Luzon area and provide
additional power to the Luzon grid.
The project became controversial after it was reported that hundreds of
tribal people would be displaced as a result of the dam
construction.
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2001 11:15:15 -0700 (PDT)
From: owner-irn-sanroque@netvista.net
subject: LS: San Manuel Residents Blame Floods on San Roque
MEDIA RELEASE
July 12, 2001
SAN MANUEL RESIDENTS BLAME SAN ROQUE DAM CONSTRUCTION FOR THE WORST FLOOD
IN THE MUNICIPALITY
San Manuel, Pangasinan Residents of San Manuel, Pangasinan blame the San
Roque Dam Construction for the worst flooding that hit the municipality in
years.
The flood caused by Typhoon Feria, the worst disaster the municipality had
experienced, have left a number of San Manuel residents with barely
nothing. With their crops and homes buried under tons of mud and water, a
big number of farmers from the area, especially from Sto. Domingo, do not
have homes and any livelihood to speak of.
They attributed the flooding in the area to the diversion of the Tacniyel
River or the Tuboy River, a tributary from the Agno River. Mr. Bernabe
Aquiho, a resident of San Manuel, explained that the clearing of the nearby
mountains due to the dam construction have blocked the way of the Tacniyel
River and have diverted the river flow to the Sto. Domingo rice fields
instead of following its natural course towards Barangay Lapalo. Large
logs that came with the mud and water in the area and which were obviously
cut down and not uprooted seem to prove the people's claim.
The people fear that in the coming months, if the diverted flow of the
Tacniyel River will not be addressed, typhoon damages to the municipality
could be more severe.
With this disaster, the people of San Manuel have gained more confidence to
oppose the San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam Project. The Tignayan ti Mannalon a
Mangwayawaya ti Agno (TIMMAWA) or Peasant Movement to Free the Agno stated
that the environmental damages that were projected to happen in the coming
years have began to haunt the people. They further stated that the dam
construction, a government flagship project, has to be stopped to prevent
more devastating floods in the coming months and years.
As of July 11, the town was still partially flooded. Classes at the
elementary level were suspended because people still had to bail out the
water and mud from the classrooms and part of the main road was still
flooded. According to Mrs. Juanita B. Malapit of the Municipal Social Work
and Development, there were 46 totally damaged houses and 9 partially
damaged houses in San Manuel. Hardest hit was barangay Sto. Domingo where
31 houses were totally damaged, 2 houses were partially damaged, and where
the community is grieving over the death of Eusebio Guiang, a 67-year old
resident who was drowned by the flashflood brought about by Typhoon
Feria. According to the Tignayan ti Mannalon a Mangwayawaya ti Agno
(TIMMAWA) or Peasant Movement to Free the Agno, an estimate of seven
hundred hectares of rice fields were damaged in the area. The farmers of
Sto. Domingo also claim that half of the damaged area was already planted
with rice and half contained palay that were ready to be harvested.
The residents here are clamoring for concrete solutions to prevent another
disaster such as this.
As a palliative measure, Mayor Salvador Perez, in a consultation/dialogue
with the affected residents last July 11, 2000 at the Municipal Hall, has
suggested that a dike be made in the area to prevent the flooding of San
Manuel. He referred the people's complaints to Engr. Moreno and Engr.
Domondon of the Agno River Basin Development Commission. The Mayor also
plans to investigate the cause of the flooding in Sto. Domingo in relation
to the San Roque Dam construction. It should also be recalled that in an
interview with Ms. Yolanda Fuertes of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the
Mayor admitted that the damage in San Manuel during Typhoon Feria was
partially caused by the dam construction.
Aside from barangay Sto. Domingo, barangays Narra, Lapalo and San Vicente
were also affected by raging floodwaters at the height of typhoon Feria's
fury.
In barangay Narra, though there were no damaged houses, the quarrying
activities in the area for the San Roque Dam construction aggravated the
flooding in the area.
In San Vicente, Sitio Bato, there are eleven documented totally damaged
houses. In Barangay Lapalo, there are two totally damaged houses and seven
partially damaged houses.
In the face of the grave situation of the flood victims in the
municipality, Mayor Salvador Perez said that the San Roque Power
Corporation has not yet offered any form of assistance to the people but
two heavy trucks the municipal government used to initially clear the
roads.
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2001 10:18:04 -0700 (PDT)
From: owner-irn-sanroque@netvista.net
subject: LS: Indigenous communities wary over construction of new dams
(Phil.Star July 11, 2001)
Tribal communities in the Cordillera are wary over the proposed construction
of three multipurpose power dams, saying these projects would cause social and
environmental havoc.
The proposed facilities are the Palsiguan multipurpose dam in Tineg, Abra;
the Matuno River dam project on the boundary of Ifugao and Ambaguio, Nueva
Vizcaya; and a mega-dam along the Amburayan River in northern Benget.
"The consent of the affected communities was not even sought on the dam
projects," Joan Carling, secretary-general of the militant anti-dam group
Cordillera People's Alliance told Cyberdyaryo. Carling said there was no need
to build more dams in the Cordillera as the National Power Corp. (Napocor)
reported that from 2000 to 2010 the region would be supplied with adequate
electricity from the surplus generated by existing dams in the area.
"The question here is, does the region need these dams? We all know that
the only ones who would benefit from these dams are the investors themselves,"
she said.
She cited the construction of a diversion tunnel in Barangay Kayapa in Bakun
town that dried up the village's river and affected the residents' farming
activities. Water from Kayapa runs the turbines of the power plants in Alilem
Ilocos Sur.
Nippon Koei Co. of Japan and a surveyor of the Nueva Vizcaya provincial
irrigation office revealed in a geological study that the Matuno River dam
project would affect families living in Sitios Cabudayan and Lower Duli in
Barangay Ammueg in Asipulo, Ifugao, according to the CPA.
The P5-billion project will be built under a build-operate-transfer scheme.
She added that feasibility studies are being mapped out and geological
scooping is underway along the Palsiguan River in remote Tineg town in Abra.
Another hydroelectric project, called the Amburayan River Dam, is being
planned for the upper system of the Agno River, the source of the
controversial San Roque Dam Project in San Manuel, Pangasinan, she added.
Struggle continues, In 1970 the Ibaloi minority succeeded in stopping the
construction of Agno III that was later known as the Tabu Dam. Marcos withdrew
the project because of the people's strong opposition to the dam.
In 1980, the Butbut tribe in Kalinga led by Macli-ing Dulag also firmly
opposed the construction of Chico Dam.
At present, 20,000 organized Ibaloi are standing their ground against the
construction of SRMDP (San Roque Multi purpose Dam Project). The San Roque
multipurpose dam, which is being built at the boundary of San Manuel,
Pangasinan, and Itogon, Benget will be 200 meters high, and will be the
tallest dam in Asia. Set to generate 345 megawatts of power, it will also be
the largest private hydropower project in Asia.
Since the $1.19-billion funding for the San Roque dam has already been
assured, there will be no doubt that the dam will be completed by 2004 as
scheduled.
But Ibaloi folk, who see the dam as a dagger pointed at the hearts of their
communities, have reiterated that "our fight isn't over until it's over."
Pascual Pocding, head of the Santahnay Shalupirip Indigenous Peoples Movement
in Itogon, Benget said his family and his ancestors have been planting rice
by the mountainside and living a life without government intervention.
Now the government has come to Pocding's Shalupirip village in the form of
the dam. He said he would rather die than relocate. "We all know that we do
not need a dam in Cordillera, but it is clear to us that there is a massive
promotion of the mining industry here. We'd rather die fighting for our land"
Pocding told CyberDyaryo.
JAPANESE ADVICE
A Japanese village official, who was part of an opposition movement against a
series of proposed dams in his village, said opposition to the proposed dams in
Cordillera can succeed or fail, depending on the tenacity and strong will of
the affected folk and their supporters from the Filipino public.
Yoshimi Tamura, village council member of Kito in Tokushima Prefecture in
southwest Japan, said he and his villagemates were able to stop a proposed
series of dams along the 125-km Naka River "because we realized dams give
more problems than benefits."
He cited an incident during a strong typhoon in August 1971 when water from a
dam had to be released causing the inundation of the homes and farms of 128
families.
"Since that time we already knew that dams do more than good," Tamura
said adding that after the 1971 incident, Kito villagers and few officials
formed study and probe teams, which visited other communities in the country
displaced by dams.
"We found that our river's fish and farms and orchards (that) the river
irrigates far outweigh the supposed benefits of dams," said Tamura.
'Adverse Effects'
The villagers' awareness of the dams adverse effects and
support from environmental and non-government groups all helped in blocking
the building of five proposed dams along the Naka River in the 1970s, he
said.
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2001 10:15:59 -0700 (PDT)
From: owner-irn-sanroque@netvista.net
subject: LS: 13 major road, irrigation, other projects okayed
http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN/2001-07/MN071801.asp
Wednesday, 18 July 2001
13 major road, irrigation, other projects okayed
Casecnan dam starts operating in September
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has approved a total of 13 new multi-million
peso infrastructure projects designed to speed up the country's economic
development and progress, particularly in the countryside.
In yesterday's National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board
meeting presided by the President, five more projects under the 25th Yen
Loan Package were approved and are now being readied for implementation. The
five new projects are the:
Arterial Road Links Development Project-Phase 4 which involves the construction
and rehabilitation of 10 arterial roads with an aggregate length of 783
kilometers and the conversion of 131 temporary bridges to permanent reinforced
concrete deck girder bridges.
Rural Roads Network Development Project Phase 4-Mindanao Section which
involves the improvement, upgrading, and rehabilitation of 11 national
secondary roads in seven provinces of Mindanao.
Cavite-Laguna project involves the short-term corridor management measures,
such as road intersection improvements, road maintenance, and provision of
pedestrian and commuter facilities, among others.
Cordillera Road Improvement Project-Phase 2 includes the road widening,
alignment correction, asphalt concrete pavement, slope protection works,
drainage structures, and rehabilitation of bridges.
Roll-on/Roll-off (RORO) Ferry Network Project for the Trans-Visayas Intermodal
Transport Network which aims to improve the efficiency in the movement of
cargoes and passengers and to improve the sustainability of RORO operation.
These additional five new projects approved brings to 13 the total infrastructure
projects which the NEDA board approved since their meeting last Monday at the
Malacanang State Dining Room.
The eight other projects earlier approved are the Iloilo Flood Control
Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the
Communication and Navigation Surveillance-Air Traffic Management of the
Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC), the Nationwide
Fishing Ports Development Project of the DoTC;
The Bago River Irrigation System Rehabilitation and Improvement Project of
the DPWH, the Sta. Ana Regional Agri-Industrial Regional Growth Center, the
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Aastronomical Services Administration
(Pagasa) Flood Control Forecasting and Warning System of the Department of
Science and Technology (DoST), the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project
Phase 6 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the
San Roque Multi-Purpose Project- Irrigation Component of the National
Irrigation Administration (NIA).
CASECNAN DAM
To bolster the country's agriculture modernization and power sufficiency
programs, President Arroyo yesterday announced that the $650-million
Casecnan Multi-Purpose Dam project in Nueva Vizcaya, which will channel
water to the Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija and increase the existing
capacities of the Pantabangan-Masiway hydroelectric plant by 140 megawatts
(MW), will start commercial operations by September, 2001.
President Arroyo made the announcement after receiving a report of
Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Q. Montemayor who had earlier briefed the
Chief Executive on the Casecnan Multi-Purpose Dam Project which is being
implemented under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) program of the government,
and which has two major components -- electric power generation and
irrigation.
Montemayor, who chairs the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), said
Casecnan's power component will start generating electricity by the time the
dam is fully completed in September.
The DA chief said the project will boost the existing capacities of
Pantabangan and Masiway hydro-electric plants by 140 MW and will bring the
total energy generation to 603 gigawatt hours (GWH) and energize 350,000
more homes.
Montemayor said the irrigation component amounting to P3.49 billion which
calls for the construction and rehabilitation of irrigation facilities in
Central Luzon, the country's rice granary, is still ongoing and it is
expected to be fully completed by 2004.
"Even before the irrigation component is fully completed by 2004, there will
already be additional farm lands that will be irrigated starting this year,
as there are batches of irrigation canals that will be rehabilitated or
constructed every year until 2004. For instance, an additional of 10,000
hectares of rice land can already be serviced by this year with the substantial
flow of water from the Casecnan and Taan Rivers to Pantabangan," Montemayor
said.
He also disclosed that NIA will utilize the almost 800 million cubic meters
of water that will flow to Pantabangan to irrigate some 35,000 hectares of
new rice lands in five municipalities of Nueva Ecija, stabilize water supply
in 102,000 hectares of existing rice lands in Pampanga, Bulacan, and Nueva
Ecija and recover another 43,000 hectares of rice lands in Pampanga lost to
the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991.
"These farmlands will enable the country to produce an additional 465,000
tons of rice per year for at least 50 years. This increased agricultural
production will have multiplier effect on other related sectors in the
economy by creating 18,000 jobs and benefitting 80,000 people in the
agricultural sector alone," Montemayor said as he stressed that this will
boost the "Ginintuang Masaganang Ani. Go Modern Agriculture" (GMA) program
of President Arroyo.
Montemayor stressed that the long-term goal of country's agriculture sector
is to regain its status as "net exporter of rice" noting that in the
seventies, the country has been importing the staple from neighboring
countries at the rate of 764,250 tons between 1990 and 2000. (Melandrew T.
Velasco)
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001 17:26:29 -0700 (PDT)
From: owner-irn-sanroque@netvista.net
subject: LS: More on floods in Pangasinan
Sender: owner-irn-sanroque@netvista.net
In Pangasinan, San Manuel Mayor Salvador Perez said the floods in his town
could have been partly caused by the construction of the $1-billion San
Roque multipurpose dam.
http://www.inq7.net/nat/2001/jul/08/nat_2-1.htm
Typhoon damage revives call for total log ban bill
Posted: 0:19 AM (Manila Time) | July 08, 2001
By Armand N. Nocum and the PDI Northern Luzon Bureau
Inquirer News Service
page 1 of 3
SENATE President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. has re-filed a controversial bill
seeking the imposition of a total ban on logging in order to restore the
fast dwindling forest cover and make the country better prepared for storms
and typhoons.
Pimentel re-filed the bill in view of the destruction wrought by Typhoon
Feria (international codename: Utor) in Northern and Central Luzon, including
massive flooding in such areas as Baguio City, which sits 5,000 feet above
sea level.
"Our forests are being denuded at a very alarming rate. Unless checked
seasonably by the government, the Philippines will soon turn into a desert,"
Pimentel said in a statement.
At this writing the number of deaths caused by landslides, drowning and
electrocution in Northern and Central Luzon has reached 102, and several
areas in Baguio and other cities and provinces were still flooded.
In Pangasinan, San Manuel Mayor Salvador Perez said the floods in his town
could have been partly caused by the construction of the $1-billion San
Roque multipurpose dam.
"The trees in (the) area were cut down to give way to the dam. The quarrying
in Narra village could have worsened the situation, too," Perez said.
In Pimentel's bill, the total ban on logging will last for 25 years,
apply to timberland, forest reserves and watersheds, and exclude legitimate
commercial tree farms.But the proposal could kick up another skirmish between
Pimentel and Environment Secretary Heherson Alvarez.
In 1988 when they were both senators, Alvarez, a proponent of selective
logging, successfully blocked Pimentel's effort to introduce Senate Bill No.
846 seeking a total log ban.
Logging, being an extractive industry, destroys forest resources faster than
nature's regenerative capacity to restore and maintain ecological balance,
Pimentel said in his statement.He noted that loggers were building roads by
cutting and bulldozing swaths through the jungles. In the process, he said
they were destroying the undergrowth, saplings and other vegetation.
"Our forests are at the mercy of those who rape the environment by engaging
in illegal activities to satisfy selfish commercial motives," Pimentel said.
He said government officials supposed to lead the crusade to protect the
environment were the ones abetting the "revolting practice" of forest
denudation.
Worse, he said, a big portion of funds earmarked for the government's
reforestation program was landing in the pockets of certain individuals.
Under Pimentel's bill, violators of the log ban will be imprisoned for not
less than five years but not more than 10 years, and their licenses or permits
to do business in the country will be revoked.
Feria wrought P54-M damages, 12 deaths
By Bong E. Otadoy
Agbayani also told Arroyo that a total of 56,537 families have been evacuated
to at least 28 evacuation centers, most of which were in the fifth, fourth and
third districts of the province.
He added that within the affected communities, at least 36 houses have been
wrecked totally while 56 have been damaged partially.Observers said the
extensive flooding must have been caused by the excess waters that authorities
of the dams of Binga and Ambuklao, had released during the heavy downpour.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/07-08-2001/topstories2.html
Urdaneta submerges under water, huge debt
By Fred P. Macaraeg
URDANETA -- The new city administration is now besieged with big problems
not only because of the heavy downpour brought about by typhoon Feria and
water releases from Binga dam that put 85 percent of the entire city
underwater but also because of the huge debt amounting to P480 million, the
former administration left.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/07-08-2001/topstories4.html
P'sinan declared a calamity area
By Jelyn B. Mangapot
The typhoon also caused P1.9 million damages to agriculture, P49 million to
fisheries and P3.35 million to infrastructure facilities for a total P54.2
million damage in properties.
As of 8 p.m. of July 5, the PDCC said typhoon "Feria" affected 431 barangays
in 28 municipalities and cities. "But the affected barangays vary in the
level of flooding. Some are severely affected while others were mediumly or
slightly affected," said Gov. Victor E. Agbayani in an interview.
There are some 56,537 families affected or an equavalent of 277,958
individuals.
PDCC records as of yesterday also showed that some parts of the
municipalities of Bayambang, Malasiqui, Alcala, Bautista, San Manuel, Tayug
and Asingan, particularly those along the banks of the Agno River, were
still underwater.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/07-08-2001/topstories5.html
Lim to make flood problem city's top priority
By Fred P. Macaraeg
DAGUPAN -- City Mayor Benjamin S. Lim said he will make the problem of
perennial flooding of the city one top priority to be addressed by his
administration.
He made the vow as he disclosed that a comprehensive study on the whole
drainage system and topography of the city will be undertaken to assure fast
recession of flash floods.
"We cannot be sure if the drainage canals in the city are properly
interconnected or if they are in their proper levels," Lim said. He did not
mention, however, as to who or which will undertake the study.
Pointing out that the flood caused by the heavy downpours brought about by
typhoon "Feria" and the water releases from Binga and Ambuklao dams in
Benguet province that submerged the city is an isolated case, he said there
are some flashfloods experienced even without a storm.
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001 17:22:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: owner-irn-sanroque@netvista.net
subject: LS: Flash floods in Pangasinan caused by Binga and Ambuklao
http://www.inq7.net/nat/2001/jul/06/nat_1-1.htm
Typhoon leaves 46 dead, isolates Baguio
Flash floods
In Pangasinan, the PDCC said 10 people were either drowned or
electrocuted in flash floods triggered by the release of excess water
from the reservoirs of Binga and Ambuklao Dams in Benguet starting
Wednesday afternoon.
The PDCC said five people were killed in Mangaldan town; two in Asingan;
and one each in Urdaneta City and the towns of San Manuel and Binalonan.
Flash floods rising between 6 and 10 feet have submerged at least eight
towns in eastern Pangasinan.
Policeman Marco Valerio was directing traffic at the Aloragat Bridge in
Binalonan when it collapsed because of the strong river current at 5 p.m.
Wednesday.The body of Valerio, 32, was recovered Thursday morning in the
Cacabalaoan River in Laoac town.
The names of the others killed in Pangasinan were not available at press
time.Water from upstream Binga passes through tributaries of the Agno River
in eastern and central Pangasinan before draining into the Lingayen
Gulf.
Five villages in Manaoag town were submerged in floodwaters, forcing
residents to flee to their rooftops.Evacuation efforts were hampered after a
PDCC rubber boat burst upon hitting an aluminum wire while negotiating the
floodwaters.
In Ilocos Norte, eight towns were reported flooded on Thursday.Provincial
officials have asked the President to declare Ilocos Norte in a state of
calamity.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/abs/inews-jul2001.nsf/provincial/20010705272
NEWS Provincial
Thursday, July 5, 2001 07:37 PM ZE8
Heavy flooding in Northern Luzon
Ambuklao Dam in Benguet had to release water Thursday as a result of heavy
rains brought by the typhoon, with rising waters reportedly exceeding the
maximum allowable level. Gates had to be opened to avoid overloading the dam.
The spilled water from Ambuklao was expected to directly affect areas around
the mountainous municipalities in Benguet Province. One person reportedly
drowned in Ilocos Norte while another was electrocuted in Cagayan relief
officials said.
Pangasinan was also battered by the typhoon, which caused the water
level at Binga Dam to suddenly rise and triggering heavy flooding in at
least 10 towns.
Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2001 11:20:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: owner-irn-sanroque@netvista.net
subject: LS: DENR now implementing Itogon watershed plan
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/06-20-2001/topstories7.html
DENR now implementing Itogon watershed plan
BAGUIO CITY -- The soil and water conservation component of the Lower Agno
Integrated Watershed Management Plan (IWMP) for the nine barangays of Itogon
is among the priority concerns of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources in the region.
This developed even as IWMP project manager Guillermo Fianza, in Tuesday's
Kapihan sa Benguet at the Kalapaw Restaurant, said his office will recommend
to the Watershed Management Committee the extension of the plan implementation
from four years to five to 10 years, depending on budget allocation.
Fianza explained that the implementation of the IWMP's various components
using a bottoms-up approach, "will need comprehensive consultation and other
similar and related processes to attain their objectives. The four-year plan
will need a budget allocation of P745 million from the DENR alone.
He added that of the P137 million initial funding released by the Department
of Budget and Management early this year, some P76 million have been allocated
for soil and water conservation, to address the siltation and erosion problems
of the municipality.
Based on IWMP data, only around 1,194.39 hectares of Itogon's total land
area of 49,656.70 hectares do not experience erosion. Some 7,652 hectares
are prone to severe erosion; another 9,177.47 hectares prone to moderate
erosion; and 31,226.38 hectares with slight erosion problem.
"Some 15 percent of the total land area of Itogon is beset with severe
erosion problems. This is particularly noted along the mountain slopes that
outline the Agno River section passing through the barangays of Dalupirip
and Tinongdan.
The erosion in these areas, primarily on account of steep slopes was largely
triggered by the 1990 earthquake that loosened the earth surface and caused
movement of the top soil. This was aggravated by loss of forest covers and
earth moving activities due to road/building constructions along slopes, and
mining and kaingin activities," the report added.
The IWMP added that Tinongdan and Dalupirip residents have expressed anxiety
over the rising level of siltation in the Agno River sections in these areas.
They said siltation threatens their agricultural lands that adjoin the riverbanks.
To address this concern, the local government unit, in coordination with the
national government, has installed 12 erosion and siltation control measures
in erosion-prone sections. Most of the measures were constructed in Gumatdang
and Dalupirip that hem (border) the Agno River and its tributaries.
"These facilities, which primarily consist of erosion-check dams, anti-siltation
devices and slope protection measures, are meant to protect river and waterways
from further siltation," the plan disclosed.
Fianza added that aside from the check dams, regeneration of vegetation by
planting trees, shrubs and bushes will be done to control erosion.
Fianza said the IWMP also includes livelihood and research components which
were allocated an initial budget of P24 million; land tenure with P13
million; forest protection - P2.6 million; bio-diversity conservation
(P1.4M); research and development (P2M); with the rest of the P137 million
allotted to community organizing and project management.
Fianza said they have already started consulting with the concerned
communities on the implementation of the IWMP.
Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2001 11:20:45 -0700 (PDT)
From: owner-irn-sanroque@netvista.net
subject: LS: Itogon gets P137M from SRMP funds
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/06-24-2001/topstories3.html
Itogon gets P137M from SRMP funds
By Ramon S. Dacawi
ITOGON, Benguet - A P137.5 million fund representing the interest of the
bank loan used in building the San Roque Multipurpose Project (SRMP) will be
spread out for the development of this town's nine barangays for the next
seven months.
The windfall came from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation which
funded the dam construction and decided to have the loan interest used instead
for the communities within the Itogon watershed of the Agnor river which feeds
into the SRMP in San Nicolas, Pangasinan.
An inter-agency watershed management committee headed by DENR-CAR Regional
Executive Director Roquesa de Castro has been formed to handle the
environmentally focused project here.
During the presentation of the action plan last June 14 at the Bua Elementary
School here, de Castro challenged the barangays to see to the full
implementation of the project. With her were outgoing Mayr Crescencio Pacalso
and incoming Mayor Mario Godio.
The action plan outlined during the meeting features five components: soil
and water conservation, livelihood and research and development, land
tenure, biodiversity conservation and forest protection, air and water
qaulity.
The plan and is specific project features were the result of a planning
session by representatives of the barangays which will implement the program
according to DENR's erstwhile Baguio Community Environment and Natural
Resources Officer Guillermo Fianza. He was tapped to serve as manager of the
program which will be based at the school.
With de Castro in the watershed management committee are incoming Mayor
Godio, Engr. Edmund Anguluan of the watershed management unit of the National
Power Corporation, DENER-CAR Assistant Regional Executive Director Augusto
Lagon, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Roberto Pagano
and a representative of the people's organization involved in the project.
Among the crucial points raised during the June 14 meeting were on the
tenurial land issue and gold mining as a livelihood backbone among residents
in relation to the still existing mineral rights of corporate firms which
had ceased mining operations.
Some barangay officials also expressed fears that some project features
especially infrastructure, might not be completed given the short period for
implementation ending in December.
Fianza, however, said preparatory work can be done during the rainy season
and that infrastructure projects may continue after December provided these
are started before the end of the year.
The barangays hae indentified 87 structural measures such as check dams,
rubble masonry, grouted riprap and bearing walls.
Under forest protection, reforestation work alone would cover a total of
3,388 hectares. Livelihood has over ten compenents, including hollow block
and furniture production, knitting, cattle and pig raising, vegetable
production, fish culture, agro-forestry and mining.
To hasten program implementation, a series of consultations was set in each
of the barangays, starting in Tinongdan last Tuesday and InDalupirip the
following day. Other meetings are set on June 27 in Gumatdang, July 2 in
Virac, July 3 in the Poblacion, July 4 in Tuding, July 5 in Ucab, July 9 in
Loacan and July 10 in Ampucao.
