ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS: MT. MATUTUM

(considered as the most perfect cone shaped volcano in Mindanao, Philippines)

Mt. Matutum, a 2,286m dormant volcano and a watershed area is fighting and struggling for survival. The mountain which covers a 13,500ha spreading over the hinterlands of three municipalities helps preserve the region's ecological balance. It minimizes occurrence of floods and droughts, control soil erosion and provide suitable habitat for plant and animal life. As a watershed it absorbs rain and release it in some form to its rivers and streams.

Mt. Matutum is one of the forests which provide our basic necessities: clothing, food and shelter and water for wildlife. Forests portray a vital role in our economy, as an agricultural country.

Well-known ecologists said that the greatest threat to our environment is the depletion of our forest which is the foundation of agricultural development. There is a prediction that all our forests will be gone before year 2000 unless extraordinary measures and dramatic actions are taken. Should we just give in to that prediction to happen? Are we not going to do anything? Shall we just sit oun our rights?

It is indeed noteworty that efforts are now being undertaken by concerned agencies at the local, regional, national and even at the global level to protect our Mother Earth from havoc and destruction.

Failure to safeguard our environment would mean a great loss to the Philippine's rich repository of biodiversity for all time. Considering the myriad material, non-material economic and ecological benefits that we get from our forests, it is our prime responsibility to conserve our soil, water and forest. Because these three are closely related and are extremely crucial in the survival of the Philippine civilization.

The Philippine Government has programs for protecting our environment and natural resources. However, the programs and policies the government had adopted cannot do anything. Filipinos have to keep on pushing because government by itself will not move, it has to be pushed by the people. What is indeed is the combined endeavor of every Filipino to do his part. This time demands every citizen to show that he is responsible for his environment.

After all, these perplexities that have now are just aftermath of what we have done and what we are doing.

Let us not wait for another catastrophic experience to occur to open our minds and realize the importance of our forests, our natural resources and our environment as a whole. Let us be iron willed to fight against all odds in protecting our environment. SOCSARGEN people must now start saving Mother Earth by taking the first bold step with our Mt. Matutum.