Coalition calls to keep Upper Marikina Watershed quarry-free

In anticipation of the Earth day celebration on April 21, the Upper Marikina Watershed Coalition (UMWC), on its launch, will gather representatives from different sectors to tackle the goal of making the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL) quarry free.

The UMRBPL is a 26,126-hectare protected area in the northern east part of Rizal Province that forms the upper area of the drainage basin of the Marikina river. It includes areas in Rodriguez, Baras, San Mateo, Tanay, and Antipolo City.

There are at least six (6) MPSAs existing or overlapping with the UMRBPL, covering about 1,500 hectares of protected forest land. An additional estimated 658 hectares appear to be under MPSAs in adjacent protected and conserved areas.

The coalition launch will happen on Zoom at 10 AM, and will be livestreamed at the UMWC’s official Facebook page. It is expected to be attended by officials from the different branches of government: Senator Cynthia Villar from the Legislative branch; Rizal Governor Rebecca Ynares and Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro  from the concerned LGUs.

UPLB Professor, Dr. Rex Victor Cruz from the College of Forestry and Natural Resources of UP Los Banos will also be present to make sense of the science of watersheds and integrated watershed management. The Center for Conservation Innovations, in particular, will tackle the state of the Upper Marikina Watershed. Representatives from other sectors such as the faith, youth, private, and local communities are also invited to participate in the program.

According to Billie Crystal Dumaliang, a coalition convenor, the launch is meant to “maintain the momentum of the call with leaders and signatories; introduce the state of the Upper Marikina Watershed and movement to media, members and the general public; show unity among stakeholders for the watershed’s protection.”

The Upper Marikina Watershed Coalition

The UMWC is a broad network of civil society organizations, people’s organization, NGOs, youth-led movements, private sector actors, and other stakeholder groups that aim to promote the protection and restoration of the UMRBPL and nearby protected areas to conserve biodiversity, prevent flooding and landslides, address climate change, and advance the welfare of some 20 million Filipinos in its vicinity.

It is currently composed of more than 60 member organizations and signatories of the statement released on World Wildlife Day, asking President Rodrigo Duterte to rescind all existing Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSAs) inside the UMRBPL and nearby protected areas before his term ends next year.

Dumaliang said that the coalition was formed due to the fact that even when there are laws and official policies protecting the UMRBPL and its adjacent protected areas from quarrying, such activities and threats still persist.

“The urgency to rescind all Mineral Production Sharing Agreements and found therein and stop other destructive activities cannot be undermined as shown by the havoc brought by Typhoon Ulysses which submerged more than 30,000 houses and displaced more than 200,000 fellow Filipinos,” she added.

After the launch, the coalition will organize more education and information campaigns with different stakeholders and form medium and long-term coalition plans and strategies. The UMWC will also continue campaigning to the President to make the Upper Marikina Watershed quarry-free.

Any organization that supports the call of the coalition is welcome to be a member-signatory. Private sector and other entities who wish to contribute may also be a partner of the coalition. Individual volunteers may contact the secretariat for engagements.

 

For media inquiries, contact:

1. RUZZEL MORALES

Coalition Secretariat

Upper Marikina Watershed Coalition

09564110705/09687206276

umwcoalition@gmail.com