LUCENA CITY, Philippines -- The lengthening dry spell has also been causing serious problems among residents in mountain communities surrounding Mt. Banahaw, which is also known as “vulcan de agua” or water volcano for its abundant water supplies.
Manny Calayag, environment and natural resource officer of Dolores town at the foot of Mt. Banahaw, said that with the prolonged dry spell, the local government will be compelled to resort to water rationing using the municipal fire truck.
“The water crisis is also being experienced even inside Banahaw. At present, there’s nothing that we can do to avert the situation,” Calayag lamented.
He said that after three years of closing the mountain from pilgrims and mountaineers for its much needed rest and rehabilitation, their expectation that several water sources inside Mt. Banahaw will eventually improve did not happen at all.
“Yes, fresh waters have again returned and flowing through our rivers and falls but the volume was way below our expectation,” Calayag said.
The protected landscape of Mount Banahaw and that of nearby Mount Cristobal serves as a watershed supplying water for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses for Sariaya, Candelaria, Tayabas, Lucban and Dolores towns all in Quezon province, and Rizal, Nagcarlan, Liliw, Majayjay and San Pablo City in Laguna province.
The watershed sustains water for the creeks, rivers and falls draining into Laguna de Bay and Tayabas Bay.
Seven rivers traverse the protected mountain -- Balayong, Maimpis, Liliw, Dalitiwan, Malinao, Nagcarlan and San Diego. The river system directly provides water for domestic, irrigation and recreational purposes.
Aside from rivers, Mt. Banahaw is also rich with falls. Sta. Lucia, Suplina and Kristallino falls are all found in Banahaw de Dolores.
Jay Lim, program officer of Tanggol Kalikasan-Southern Tagalog, an environment legal defense center based in Lucena City, said he often found it ironic that he has to bring bottled water every time they conduct inspection of the mountain.
“It’s … a serious environmental crisis if not [addressed] soon. The mountain watershed needs an urgent rehabilitation,” he said.
Calayag said the local government has been calling all its residents to actively participate in the reforestation program.
He said two years ago, the municipal council passed an ordinance requiring marriage-license.
