An Independent Report on the

State of Ipo Watershed

Prepared by a composite team

comprising of members of the
UP Mountaineers,
Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines and
concerned individuals

On April 30 to May 1, 2009, a composite team

comprised of members of the UP Mountaineers
and Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines
went on a fact-finding mission to Ipo Watershed in
Norzagaray, Bulacan.

Their objective was to document human activities

within the watershed and its effect on the capacity
of Ipo Watershed to supply Metro Manila’s demand
for freshwater.

According to the 2004

joint study by the Forest
Management Bureau of
the Department of
Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) and
the Metropolitan
Waterworks and
Sewerage System
(MWSS), 60-70% of the
6,600-hectare Ipo
Watershed is denuded.
The report points to
illegal logging, slash-
and-burn farming or
kaingin, charcoal-
making, and the
expansion of illegal
settlements as the
causes of the damage.

Five years have passed and the remaining 30% forest cover is still seriously
threatened by the activities of the illegal settlers. Unabated human encroachment
within the perimeter of the watershed continues to put pressure on the environment.
The map below shows the trail taken by the composite team through the watershed.
Each point along the path as shown was recorded by a global positioning device. The
team trekked along and across the Pako and Anginan Rivers, along and over steep
ridges for two days.

Route of the composite team’s 2 day hike shown in red. Note the location of Ipo Dam and Angat Dam in the map.

Along the way, the team found approximately 50 sawn wood left on the ground and
ready for collection. Some of the wood came from areas reforested by the DENR
probably 5 or 8 years ago. The trees that were felled by the loggers in the reforested
areas were fast-growing and non-native species like mahogany and gemelina. Newly
cut trees were also seen near the residence of the Dumagat chieftain in Sitio Sapang
Pako.

Trees planted by the DENR 5 or 8 years ago are being cut by the illegal settlers.
Position of photo on the left: N14 52.700 E121 10.422
Position of photo on the right: N14 52.696 E121 10.451
In the interior, dipterocarps are the timber of choice. The largest sawn wood
discovered measured at least 15 feet long, 7 feet wide and 5 inches thick.

Wood wider than a man’s outstretched arms

Position of photo on the left: N14 52.833 E121 11.294
Position of photo on the right: N14 52.833 E121 11.294

Despite of the efforts by volunteer organizations and individuals to reforest the

watershed since 2006 and the recent launching of the Bantay Gubat by the DENR,
kaingin is still rampant in the area.

The team was able to document and take geographic position data of more than 10
newly-burned kaingin areas averaging about 2 hectares each. The most extensive of
these measured at least 3 hectares. More than 5000 trees was estimated to have
been cut down and burned in these new kaingin sites. Some of the trees had a
diameter of 4-5 feet.

Pictures of one of the many newly-burned kaingin sites.

The blue square on the right side of both pictures is a makeshift shelter of the kaingeros.
Position: N14 53.124 E121 11.330
 There are at least 4000 fallen and burned trees in this kaingin site alone.

At least 10 old kaingin sites were also seen and these were left to grow with shrubs
and grass. Kaingin farming is very inefficient and unsustainable as it allows one
viable harvest before the topsoil is eroded and leaves the area unsuitable for planting
the next season’s crops. This is the one of the many reasons why kaingeros look for
new forests to burn down after each planting season.

Kaingin here, kaingin there, kaingin everywhere

Position: N14 53.142 E121 11.003
With the rate of illegal activities happening within the watershed and with the lack of
forest protection measures, the group estimates that by year 2013, Ipo Watershed
will be completely denuded if no action is done to reverse the damage. The current
rate of deforestation is greater than the rate of reforestation.

Position: N14 53.124 E121 11.330

The growing number of illegal settlers puts heavy pressure on Ipo Watershed. Their
unsustainable practices such as kaingin, logging and charcoal-making greatly reduce
the natural forest cover of the watershed. Without trees that control soil erosion
during the rainy season, silt will be heavily deposited on the upstream side of Ipo
Dam, thereby affecting its water-holding capacity and the quality of water it stores.
Heavily silted water places undue strain on water treatment facilities making it much
more expensive to bring clean water into the metropolis. Likewise, with fewer trees
during the summer season, water supply will be endangered. The increased
reflectivity of sunlight from barren land warms up the atmosphere, reduces and
disperses clouds, and may eventually cause a decrease in rainfall. Trees keep the
water supply in a watershed intact
Activities that are not permitted in watersheds are actually happening within Ipo
Watershed at an alarming rate. If these are not put to an end, Metro Manila will suffer
by bearing with the rising cost of potable water, disruption of water supply, and unrest
amongst the poor who may no longer be able to afford the cost of having clean water
brought to their faucets.

The team appeals to MWSS, DENR and the two water concessionaires (Manila
Water Company, Inc. and Maynilad Water Services, Inc.) that earn profit from the
water they get from Ipo Watershed to sit down and talk to each other in order to plan
and implement effective forest protection strategies. Without genuine forest
protection, all our reforestation efforts will be in vain.