The call came after years of efforts to preserve the 63,000
hectare watershed which was focused on forest management for purposes of
securing water supply for Metro Manila and power generation, but not on its
rich biodiversity.
Brother Martin Francisco of the Sagip Sierra Madre
Environmental Society (SSMES) said reported sightings of the Philippine eagle
another compelling reason for the government to take a more serious program for
the protection for the watershed.
“The Napocor used to claim that the Angat Watershed is the
best kept watershed in Asia , maybe that’s the
reason why Philippine eagles are sighted, they maybe looking for sanctuary,”
Francisco said.
However, despite its status,
the National Power Corporation (Napocor) and the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) earlier estimated at about 20 percent
of the watershed is deforested due to rampant timber poaching.
“The sighting of eagles within the watershed means more
reason for its protection,’ said Francisco.
Danilo Sevilla, the vice president of the National Power
Corporation (Napocor) disclosed on Monday the many reported sightings of the
Philippine Eagle within the watershed.
The Napocor manages the 63,000 hectare watershed along with
the 246-megawatt Angat River Hydro Electric Power Plant (Arhepp) located at
Hilltop, Norzagaray town.
However, Sevilla said that they still have to confirm if the
Philippine eagles sighted within the watershed are nesting.
Sevilla also said the watershed is home for native species
of hardwood or dipterocarps and still undocumented rich flora and fauna.
He added that Angat watershed serves a the primary carbon
sink of Metro Manila as it was able to siphoned an estimated 50-Million tons of
carbon in the past years.
Emmanuel Umali, Napocor manager for the Angat Watershed said
they are about to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Haribon
Foundation in order to conduct study for watershed bioviversity, including the
Philippine eagle.
The same was echoed by Anabelle Fontillas of the Haribon
Foundation who explained that they intend to validate anecdotal sightings on
eagle population estimates.
She also said that the best way to protect the Philippine
eagle is to preserved and conserve existing forests through broad support from
stakeholders like local government units (LGUs) and schools.
For his part, Mendel Garcia, the head of the Angat Watershed
Area Team (Awat) said that Napocor has also tried to work an agreement with the
Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF).
However, the said agreement didn’t work out for unknown
reasons.(Dino Balabo)
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