Senator Erwin Tulfo has urged his colleagues to step up efforts to safeguard the Sierra Madre mountain.

In a privileged speech on Tuesday, November 11, Tulfo described the Sierra Madre mountain as a mother who would always protect her kids from danger or destruction during the height of Super Typhoon Uwan's recent onslaught.

“Just last Saturday and Sunday, when Super Typhoon Uwan hit Luzon, we once again witnessed the resilience of the Sierra Madre. She was the one who stopped the storm, held back the fury of the wind, and saved millions of lives in Luzon,” Tulfo said.

“She quietly fulfilled his duty as our savior once again – like a mother who hid her children from the deadly lash of the storm,” the senator added.

The Sierra Madre is the longest mountain range in the Philippines, stretching over 540 kilometers along the eastern coast of Luzon. It acts as a natural shield against typhoons from the Pacific Ocean.

The range runs from Cagayan in the north to Quezon in the south.

Tulfo recalled that the Sierra Madre has saved Luzon countless times — from worse damages brought by Typhoon Yolanda, Rolly, Paeng, and now Uwan.

“But who will save the Sierra Madre? It cannot speak for itself. It cannot march to this hall. It cannot plead for mercy against bulldozers and chainsaws. It relies on us — the people’s representatives — to give it voice and legal protection,” he said

Tulfo noted that “mining operations continue to carve scars upon its slopes. Illegal logging and quarrying, erode its soil. Infrastructure and resort developments threaten to fragment its forests. “

Despite the enactment of Republic Act No. 9125, or the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park Act of 2001, which aims to protect it, the implementation of the provisions that should have protected the country's remaining natural resources are inadequate and weak.

“I call for the immediate review and approval of the implementation of protection for the Sierra Madre. Stricter bans are needed on any harmful mining, logging, and construction of all types of resorts, whether for vacation or permanent residence, along with providing nature-based livelihoods to indigenous and local communities who are the true guardians of nature,” Tulfo said.

“If the Sierra Madre is willing to sacrifice itself for our salvation, isn't it time for us to save it in return?” he added.

Senator Raffy Tulfo expressed his support for Senator Erwin’s privilege speech, slamming the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) over the alleged Environmental Compliance Certificate-for-sale and for being reactive rather than proactive in protecting the environment.

Senator Raffy called for stronger environmental protection and accountability, particularly in the management of the country’s protected areas, following the recent landfall of Super Typhoon Uwan, which battered Luzon over the weekend.

“The problem with our environment is that damages are often irreversible. Kaya dapat prevention ang priority natin hindi rehabilitation. Dahil years even decades ang kailangan to bring back any damage to our environment. And the cost is nowhere near any economic advantage that we can gain from some of the projects,” he said.

Senator Raffy cited in example the Kaliwa Dam Project which he opposed years ago due to its irreversible impact on the Sierra Madre ecosystem and the displacement of indigenous communities. DENR later suspended the project after several environmentalist groups warned against how it could threaten the lives of 100,000 residents once it is built.

“At the moment, may go signal na ulit sa Kaliwa Dam Project, dahil ba nabaling na ang atensyon ng mga tao? Are the concerns of the indigenous peoples addressed? While the MWSS claimed that only half of the village will be affected, Indigenous groups and villagers said the waters would submerge up to 90% of the village as only houses situated 70 meters and above will be spared,” he said.

Sen. Raffy also called for a review of the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS) Act, which governs the country’s protected areas.

“There is a need to instill better regulatory systems. Community participation in the regulation must be strengthened. Because just like infra projects, it is the communities that point out irregularities. It is the community that has genuine concern for the environment,” he said.

“Furthermore, we should include in the prohibited and penalized acts, the participation of government officials in the prohibited acts. Because the violations of our environmental laws are never committed without the consent or cooperation of a public official.

Senators JV Ejercito, Risa Hontiveros, Loren Legarda, and Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano also backed Senator Erwin Tulfo’s call to protect Sierra Madre.