Massive development causes kaingin farming in Bulacan watersheds

MALOLOS CITY — Aggressive developments at the provincial boarder of Bulacan and Rizal have led to rampant kaingin farming and charcoal making inside the Angat Watershed Area in Norzagaray town.

Nelson Gorospe, head of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) said newly graded earth road from Rodriguez (formely Montalban), Rizal have reached and encroached the watershed.

Citing reports of the investigating team he dispatched last week, Gorospe said the new road is believed to have increased the incidence of kaingin or slash and burn farming and charcoal making activities of residents in the area.

"This is a serious threat to the Angat and Ipo watersheds," he said noting that when a watershed gets denuded, it erodes and the water holding capacity of the dam is lessened.

The PENRO investigating teams have also identified that residents of Rodriguez, Rizal are the ones conducting kaingin and charcoal making.

Worst, the wood materials that residents are using came from the watershed of Norzagaray.

"We will have a closer and regular coordination with Rizal environment officials at least twice a month regarding forest protection activities in the area including the monitoring of the transport of illegally gathered forest products," Gorospe said.

He added that there is also a need for the release of additional funds to sustain forest management, and the provision of resources by the Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for forest protection activities as co-manager in the management of the Angat Pilot Forest Reservation.

Earlier, employees of the Maynilad Water Services who conducted a tree planting activity within the Ipo Dam watershed in Norzagaray town said that at least half of the 6,600-hectare watershed has been denuded.