Baguio Visit

Baguio Visit

Eco-walk organised by Baguio Regreening Movement

1)The participants
Three representatives from Water Watch Penang, namely
§ Mr Lee Shok Mee
§ Ms Yeoh Oon Bee
§ Ms Teh Kim Hong


Standing from left- Teh, Yeoh and Lee

2)Duration of the visit

6-10 December 1999

3)Budget
The Institute On Governance through SERI/WWP shouldered all expenses related to the trip.

4)Events

6-12-99
Departed from Penang and reached Manila at 3.00 p.m. Met on arrival by Ms Ophring Muyano of Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office. Ophring is also a volunteer in the capacity as Eco-walk administrative officer.
A chartered van and a driver were waiting and ready to take us to Baguio City, which is situated at an altitude of about 1500 meters. Manila-Baguio trip took about 7 hours travelling in a van (due to heavy traffic along most parts of the roads). By the time we checked into El Cielito Hotel in Baguio City, it was already 10.30 p.m. Mr Ramon Dacawi, the Eco-walk Project Manager, was on hand to received us at the hotel. He advised us to have a good night rest before he revealed the programmes for the next few days to come.


Ramon, Eco-walk Project Manager

7-12-99
Mainly familiarization tour of the city. Made a visit to the famed Philippines Military Academy in the morning, followed by horse riding so as to bring a ‘special memory’ home as advised by Ramon.
The actual orientation on the Eco-Walk Project began over the lunch table by meeting with the project core group of people. Interestingly this group of people is mainly made up of press and media people- reporters, photographers, editors, feature articles writers, information officers and local radio broadcasters. The regional daily, Sun Star appears to be the ardent supporter of the project. Hence the messages and publicity relating to the project can be quickly and easily relayed to the people of Baguio. Even our brief visit was given wide publicity through the local dailies and radio (see news crippling attached)
In the afternoon, we made a courtesy call to the Chairman of Baguio Regreening Movement, Bishop Ernesto Salgado. The bishop being an influential religious leader and non-political figure is most acceptable to all to lead the group. His genuine love for the environment and the people makes it all the more easier for him to appeal to people to join in the group as volunteers or to raise fund to carry out related activities from time to time.
From the panoramic view it is evident that the city is expanding too fast in recent years. Houses are built on deep slopes all over the city. Bearing in mind that Baguio is situated in the earthquake zone. Baguio City was planned to accommodated a maximum of 200 000 people. It is now swollen to 350 000 people. It seems that more and more ‘rich’ Manila people are taking over many of the lands. One just beside Ramon's village is earmarked to be developed into a golf course. Many tribal people are engaging in wood carving as a mean of earning a living. It seems that wood handicraft is quite a lucrative trade, but then again the ‘lion’ shares often go to the middlemen.

This overpopulated highland city is not only experiencing congested streets and traffic jam, air and sound pollution appear to have reached dangerous level. The most critical problem however is water supply. The underground water drawn at Busol Watershed is the only water source available to the people of Baguio. At the moment its capacity can only meet the need of half of the population. Hence water rationing is a daily event that residents have to live with. Almost every household resorts to installing large water storage tank. Besides, at a corner of each house, it is certain to find another tank to collect rain water!


Collecting rain water

That night, Mit, our driver and guide taught me how to eat a ‘belut’, the unhatched duck embryo.


Add a little salt before you eat


That’s how I did it

8-12-99
Witnessed a demonstration lesson on environmental issues conducted by a teacher in Quezon Hill Elementary School. The main team of the lesson was about how water pollution affects the lives of fisherman, aquatic organisms and water supply. Lesson was conducted through inquiry approach, small group discussion and class presentation. The lesson was well received by the pupils (about 45) and at least 25 observers. Other than three of us, there were few teachers from other schools, headmistresses, and the module writer, district and city science supervisors. Immediately after the lesson there was keen discussion on time management of completing the whole lesson in 40 minutes. Apparently the lesson was a little big too long.


A demonstration lesson conducted by Quezon Hill Elementary School


Group activity


Getting ready for group presentation


Keen discussion after observing the lesson

While the lesson was superb, nevertheless, in my personal opinion, it fell short of showing how the Eco-walk Project itself or the Baguio Regreening Programme (with the important aim to conserve Busol Forest for the preservation of Busol Watershed) can be directly incorporated into the local school curriculum. And in what way it can convince the local education authority to adopt its programme directly into the normal school lessons. However, the fact that there were education administrators present during the demonstration lesson did show that BRM was gaining attention and recognition. According to Ramon, BRM is approaching the ministry of education in adopting their programme into the new school curricula that are undergoing revamp at the moment.
To three of us who have been conducting nature education courses for school children for quite a number of years now, we have always been thinking of how to approach the Malaysian MOE to incorporate our programmes directly into the already-cramped school curricula. Take for instances, promoting Penang Botanic Gardens as a local heritage to be widely used to teach about the variety of flora and fauna and conservation of watershed (as we did through the Friends of Penang Botanic Gardens Society); or using the natural pristine forests of Penang Hill to teach about biodiversity and importance of forest conservation (as we did through Malaysian Nature Society). I believe, similarly, this is what we are interested in WWP- instilling the awareness of water as a finite natural resource and introducing some programmes on water conservation.
In the late afternoon, we were privileged to make a courtesy call on the City Mayor, Mr Mauricio Domogan at the City Hall. The Mayor presented us with a symbolic key to the Baguio City. He welcomed our first visit and stressed the need of more such visit in exchange, particularly in promoting friendship and sharing experiences in environmental conservation, and preservation of natural heritage and culture.


Courtesy call to City Mayor (middle) and Deputy City Mayor

9-12-99
To participate in the Eco-walk at Busol Watershed was the culmination of this visit. About 50 children from Quezon Hill Elementary School each was given a pine seedling (Pinus kesiya) to plant at the plot of land assigned to the school. Each participating school is given a small plot to take charge. The children carried the seedling carefully while trekking through the forest to their designated plot to plant. Each child was given only a seedling to plant and thereafter suppose to take care of it until it grows into mature tree. The reason of one-child one-seedling is to ensure that the child will pay full attention to his/her only plant. While the process of planting a seedling looked simple but the ‘ritual’ is definitely impressive. There were talks, briefings , singing and games, such as
§ the importance of conservation of forest
§ Busol Watershed
§ how to plant a seedling
§ singing about water conservation
§ searching for the longest pine needle…


Busol Watershed Forest Reserve


This is how you can plant a pine seedling


Children planting seedlings


Now that we had planted the seedlings, let’s sing`


Who got the longest pine needle?

But the most important part of the whole ceremony was for all those who (including three of us) had planted a seedling to pledge that he/she would ‘form this day onward…will preserve, conserve/nurture this relationship…be its protector/defender’. We trekked up the hill with the children and witnessed and helped them to plant the seedlings. At the campsite we were each given a seedling too to plant not just to commemorate the visit, but more importantly to participate in the regreening programme. Yes, every tree counts. So as to keep the water flowing and the only water treatment plant going.


We also participated in the regreening programme


We must all pledge to protect the trees


Sucking up the underground water


Water treatment plant in Busol Watershed

Perhaps the last point to note is that the core group of BRM volunteers are very well trained. They are well versed with their own roles and very familiar with their programmes. Some of them have been serving continuously for the last 7 years and still going strong.


10-12-99
Returned to Penang safely.

5 Comments
§ The Baguio Regreening Programme is successful because it enjoys the support form wide spectrum of the community leaders, mass media and schools.
§ The real threat to Busol Watershed is evident and imminent as more and more squatters are encroaching into it.
§ The most important factor that may determine the fate of the city could be water supply .

6 What we have learned
§ To establish trails for eco-walk through our watershed areas in Penang Botanic Gardens or Penang Hill etc
§ Designing eco-education programmes


Lee Shok Mee
January, 2000