TABUK CITY, Kalinga (PIA) — The province of Kalinga is proposing to declare Mt. Binulawan, one of its main watersheds and its remaining virgin forest, as a protected area in a bid to prevent deforestation and conserve its rich biodiversity.
Francisco Balutoc, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), said the technical working group composed of the concerned local government units (LGUs), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples recently met to discuss the series of activities to be conducted and ways forward.
Balutoc said a Protected Area Suitability Assessment (PASA), which involves gathering information about the area’s biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics and other environmental features, will be conducted to evaluate Mt. Binulawan’s suitability for inclusion in the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).
NIPAS is a system designed to manage and protect ecologically significant areas and public lands. It aims to conserve biodiversity, ensure sustainable use of resources, and maintain the natural integrity of these areas. The system is governed by the NIPAS Act of 1992 (RA 7586) and its amendments, including the Expanded NIPAS Act of 2018 (RA 11038).
“After the assessment, it will be determined what its classification will be, whether as a forest reserve, wildlife sanctuary, protected landscape, or a watershed reserve,” Balutoc said in Ilocano.
Mt. Binulawan, located between the municipalities of Pasiland Tinglayan, rises about 2,500 meters above sea level and spans approximately 6,000 hectares of virgin forest. It is the headwater source for the Pasil and Bunog rivers, which are tributaries of the Chico River, a vital irrigation source for rice fields in Tabuk City and parts of Isabela.
The mountain forest also supplies domestic and agricultural water to several barangays, including Colayo and Balatoc in Pasil; Tulgao West, Tulgao East, Dananao, Sumadel, Mallango, and Belong Menubal in Tinglayan, and some communities in Lubuagan.
The forest is composed of mossy and pine ecosystems, with moss layers over a meter thick, according to PENRO.
Balutoc emphasized that declaring Mt. Binulawan as a protected area would ensure the sustainability of water resources, conserve wildlife, and promote ecotourism.
“Declaring the forest as a protected area will sustain water resources for the communities and help preserve biodiversity. The area serves as a breeding place for our wildlife and flora and fauna. It can also boost tourism and contribute significantly to climate change mitigation,” he said.
Balutoc noted that the process of securing protected area status will take time. He said after the conduct of PASA, a legislative proposal must be filed in Congress to enact a law formally declaring the area as protected. (JDP/RGA-PIA CAR, Kalinga)
