My Romance with Mt. Hamiguitan

The Mt. Hamiguitan Range (MHR) lies a-straddling the municipalities of San Isidro, Gov. Generoso, and Mati in the province of Davao Oriental. It has total land coverage of 17,400 hectares that are characterized by different ecosystems. There is an agricultural ecosystem at 50-300 masl; dipterocarp, montane, mossy and mossy-pygmy forest at various altitudinal levels up to 1700 masl; and intermittent patches of brushland and grassland. Streaks of large and narrow rivers create zig-zag patterns on the surface of this mountain, and a natural sink called locally as Tinagong Dagat is found at 1200 masl. A mountain range by the sea noted for its "pygmy " or bonzai tree forest, MHR is home to five endangered plant species, 27 rare, 44 endemic and 59 ecologically important species, according to the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources.

Located within the Range is the Philippine Eagle sanctuary, and the MHR Wildlife Sanctuary (6,800 has.), which was declared, protected area on July 30, 2004. The Sanctuary is categorized as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). Five major watersheds and rivers that support the three municipalities are also found here. At the base to the east of this mountain range is Pujada Bay, also a protected landscape and seascape; and, to the west, is the Davao Gulf which is a major fishing ground for both resident and non-resident fishers. In this long coastal line from Governor Generoso to the east coast of the province is a migratory pathway of wild marine animals such as the dugong, dolphins, whale shark and green turtles. Rare sightings of leatherback turtles have also occurred in this coast. And recently one leatherback turtle was caught, butchered and eaten by four local residents, which resulted to their death because they did not know that the meat of this rare amphibian species is poisonous.

Surrounding the MHR at the base are 10 communities of pure and mixed ethnicity that thrive on farming, forest resources extraction, and fishing. These people are a blend of settlers from the Visayas and Luzon islands, and native tribes of Manobo, Mandaya and Higaonon. The indigenous people's population here is gradually thinning out due to migration and inter-marriage with settlers that resulted, in some cases, to descendants disowning their IP parent's native roots.
This mountain range is one of the local defenses against global warming because of its thick forest canopy that helps absorb greenhouse gasses emitted from local human activities. It is also a tourism/research site because of the presence of interesting and beautiful bio species that has directly generated income and prestige for the stakeholder municipalities.

Currently, MHR is being threatened by the entry of mining companies that have conducted mining activities at various stages within the range. The existence of the aforementioned MHR dependents will be disturbed, if not totally destroyed, when actual large-scale mining operations occur as these are designed for open-pit mining procedure that requires clearing of large forest areas. This will result in the, among others, reduction of water volume, and pollution of the water itself which will further jeopardize other economic activities such as fishing and farming. The identified mine sites are also near the Pacific Cordillera fault-line, which is at risk to intense seismic movement. This means that long-term containment of mine waste would be very risky.
The Mt. Hamiguitan Range is not only a livelihood source and support for the communities surrounding it. It is also a center of endemism where rare, endangered and endemic flora and faunal species are found such as the Dendrobium uniflorum, Philippine Pygmy fruit Bat and the White-Spotted Anglehead reptile. Lack of education on the importance of these species have contributed and will contribute more to haphazard hunting and capture by both local residents and visitors.

This author believes that one of the principal problems is the lack of appropriate knowledge and motivation on the part of majority of the MHR dependents on the proper preservation of Mt. Hamiguitan Range resources. There is also a lack of concern on destructive effects should the resources be abused and not rehabilitated. This is manifested in their practice of deregulated extraction of MHR forest resources such as rattan and almaciga (Agathis philippinensis), and the poaching of bonsai trees and other critical species.

In raising the communities' level of awareness and sensibilities relative to environmental protection, it is expected that they will also raise tangible methods of preserving their indigenous resources, which will effect in a more sustained sources of life support for all dependents. One major impact is the heightened vigilance of the community against poaching and other illegal activities, which will help reduce rapid and indiscriminate utilization of natural resources in the area. It will also contribute in preserving environmentally critical species that bind biodiversity relationships existing in the Range. Moreover, it is expected that this intervention will mobilize more citizens to oppose large-scale mining explorations and operations, which pose a major threat to MHR.

The Municipalities of San Isidro and Governor Generoso are promoting the Range as a tourist destination. They have scheduled climbs all year round and offer affordable trip packages. Tourists will be brought to the mountain's peak that offers 6,800 hectares of hundred-year old bonzai trees. And, by the way, all other life forms existing there seem to be dwarfed, too. See for yourself.

Mt. Hamiguitan is a really beautiful Range. It symbolizes stability and hope for its dependents. To ruin it is to ruin dreams and aspirations of the people who derive life from the mountain's resources. I really wish that it will be spared from destruction.


http://www.govgen.gov.ph/