By Xyla Mercedita Gualberto
Xavier Science Foundation, in partnership with the Philippine Tropical Forests Conservation Foundation (PTFCF) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) turned over equipment to the Bantay Lasang volunteers (forest guards) of the Portulin Talaandig Tribal Association (PTTA) in Barangay Portulin, Pangantucan and the Miarayon-Lapok-Lirongan-Tinaytayan Talaandig Tribal Association (MILALITTRA) in Brgy Miarayon, Talakag in the province of Bukidnon.
The two tribal communities are nestled in the foot of Mt Kalatungan, home to rich biodiversity resources, sheltered by the Igmale’ng’en, the sacred forests of the Talaandig tribe. They consider this part of their ancestral domain a place for their rituals and where their spirits can reside in peace.
But over the years, deforestation and mining activities have taken place in the Kalatungan mountain range, gravely affecting the life ways of the tribal communities.
With the pressing issues on encroachment, timber poaching, massive mining and wildlife trafficking, the community and local government have identified the need to capacitate the local stakeholders in taking active roles to protect their sacred forests and ending crimes against the environment.
DENR, through XSF’s Enhancement of Community Capacity for Sustainable Ecological Protection and Economic Development (EcoSEED) project funded by PTFCF, has initiated Wildlife Enforcement Officer (WEO) training in the two communities last June. It has trained close to a hundred locals, deputizing them to bring teeth to environmental laws.
The training also provided the participants with knowledge about the different ecosystems, the country’s rich flora and fauna, wildlife smuggling and the local stakeholders’ role in actively protecting their natural resources.
On August 8 and 10, the equipment and paraphernalia (such as handheld radios, rubber boots, rain coats etc) were turned over to the communities so they can effectively exercise their responsibilities as Bantay Lasang.
During the turnover ceremony, XSF executive director Roel Ravanera said, “Kinahanglan kita tanan magtinabangay nga maampingan ang atong lasang. Isa ra kabuok ang kalibutan. Kaning programa nato karon nagpakita nga kita nagkahiusa para maampingan ang mga lasang.”
(We need to help one another in protecting our forest. We only have one world. Our program today shows our unity in protecting our forests.)
“Ugma damlag, mobalik ang kahoy sa atong kalasangan ug dili unta diri ra taman ang atong panaghiusa,” Ravanera added.
(We hope for a brighter tomorrow where we will have more trees in forests and we hope our joint efforts do not stop here.)
Deforestation in the highlands causes flooding in the lowlands so this inter-connectedness echoes a loud cry for collaboration between upland and low-lying communities.
Forester Eric Bonduan of PTFCF also said, “Hindi niyo po kami bisita, partners niyo po kami kasama ang XSF. Kami po ay nagagalak na merong nag-volunteer na maging miyembro ng Bantay Lasang. Nagpapasalamat po kami kasi ang trabahong ito ay walang katapat na pera.”
(We are not your visitors, but your partners, together with XSF. We are happy that you took on the challenge to volunteer as forest guards. We are thankful because no amount of money can compensate to your efforts.)
Bonduan continued: "Kaya itong suporta namin ay para kayo ay magpursige na pangalagaan ang inyong mga lasang. Sama-sama po tayo. Kung hindi po tayo sama-sama, mas mahirap ang gagawin natin. Ang pagsama-sama ay pagpapalakas ng komunidad at ng Bantay Lasang.”
(We hope that the support we have provided will encourage you to persevere in protecting your forests. We are in this together. If we’re not united, our tasks become more difficult. Unity strengthens the community and strengthens the forests guards as well.)
In turn, the communities have expressed their gratitude for the assistance they received which has equipped them to protect their Igmale’ng’en.
One of their elders, Baylan Jose Batiyag challenged the newly deputized Bantay Lasang to stay committed to their responsibilities and their spirit of collaboration.
“Magpadayon unta kita sa pagtinabangay para maangkon nato ang kalampusan.”
(May we continue to help one another in order to reach development.)
Mt Kalatungan stands high and mighty, embracing the Igmale’ng’en in its vast richness. But its survival, which is directly connected to ours, rests in our hands.