RDC XII supports the establishment of two protected landscapes in SOX

By Aurel Raymund P. Betque, NEDA XII

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – House Bill No. 9055 or “Establishing Mt. Busa-MAKIMA as a Protected Landscape” and House Bill No. 9595 or “Establishing Allah Valley Watershed Forest Reserve as a Protected Landscape” were supported by the Regional Development Council (RDC) XII through Resolution Nos. 09 and 10, series of 2022 respectively, during its 76th Regular Meeting on March 29, 2022 via videoconference. The two House Bills were previously endorsed by Economic Development Committee (EDC) XII to RDC XII for support during its 1st Quarter Regular Meeting on March 1, 2022 via videoconference.

Mt. Busa is located within the political boundaries of Sarangani and South Cotabato with elevation of 2,064 meters above sea level and covers a total area of 114,438.65 hectares. Mt. Busa harbors around 200 species of plants, 58 species of birds, 30 species of amphibians, 24 species of reptiles, and 12 species of mammals according to recent studies and reports. It is home to 18 globally threatened species (vulnerable) and 22 restricted range species (irreplaceable). Stakeholders are proposing Mt. Busa to be a Protected Landscape in cognizance of its being Sarangani’s last frontier. Only 27% of the forest cover remain for Region XII and 80% of which are found in Maitum, Kiamba and Maasim (MAKIMA) in Sarangani.

Mt. Busa and Allah Valley Protected Landscapes could be included as among the legislated Protected Areas in Region XII...

On the other hand, Allah Valley Landscape was declared as Watershed Forest Reserve (AVWFR) through Presidential Proclamation No. 2455 dated September 24, 1985 which declared 102,350 hectares as part of this forest reserve. It was placed as an initial component of Network of Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) under Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 25, Series of 1992. A total of 76.693.1 hectares have undergone the Protected Area Suitability Assessment (PASA) for the proposed Allah Valley Protected Landscape. The final map was approved by the PAMB en banc on September 22, 2020, which covers 2 Provinces, 4 Municipalities, and 43 Barangays. AVWFR is known for its uniqueness with the presence of important cultural, geological aesthetic features that support biodiversity. It hosts one of the last remaining intact primary forest blocks in the Philippines, of which 27.3% is forest area. Mt. Busa and Allah Valley Protected Landscapes could be included as among the legislated Protected Areas in Region XII in addition to Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape and Mt. Matutum Protected Landscape.