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First Posted on Inside Mindanao (www.insidemindanao.com) on January 14, 2009

Liguasan Marsh cries for help
By Bong S. Sarmiento

KORONADAL CITY—Liguasan Marsh is believed to hold large reserve of natural gas amid a rich biodiversity.

Of its 288,000 hectares, 43,900 hectares was declared as "Game Refuge ad Bird Sanctuary" through Forestry Administrative Order 19 issued in January 1941.

The wetland supports a huge variety of aquatic wildlife, including 20 species of fishes, three species of reptiles and over 20 species of waterfowl, herons, egrets and ducks.

It is the only place in the country where the Comb–crested Jacana, also known as the Lotusbird or the Lillytrotter bird can be found, so named due to its habit of walking on the surface of water by leaping on leaves of lotus or water lilies.

Liguasan Marsh is also one of the last strongholds for the endangered Philippine Crocodile and the Estuarine Crocodile. The endangered Monkey–eating Eagle is likewise reported to be present in the forested areas of the marsh.

Tons of bombs have been dropped and bullets fired at the jungle portion of the marshland that severely eroded its environment in years of intermittent fighting between the military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

But the major threats in the marsh are mainly the results of its increased use for economic needs, which include: illegal hunting of wildlife, unsustainable fishing and farming methods, draining of marsh for agriculture and fish ponds, and the ongoing oil and natural gas exploration, the non–government Foundation for the Philippine Environment said.

Abhoud Syed M. Lingga, executive director of the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies, said there is an urgent need to protect and conserve the biodiversity and the rich natural resources of Liguasan Marsh.

His group had initiated a "community–based approach to safeguard the natural resources of Liguasan Marsh from human destruction and aim to encourage communities to reforest the marsh through individual and communal efforts."

"With local residents as key stakeholders to prevent the further deterioration of the marsh, we would like to involve everybody on this noble task for the future generations," he said.

According to him, not only the people living in the marsh must be concerned about its environmental condition but also the government, non–government organizations and even foreign donor countries.

Cotabato Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, head of the Presidential Task Force for Mindanao River Basin Rehabilitation, said at least P9 billion will be needed to regenerate Liguasan Marsh.

"The rehabilitation work for years to come will cost the task force around P9 billion," he said in an article posted at the website of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Bishop Quevedo, a former CBCP president, noted that siltation has marred Liguasan Marsh, resulting to heavy flooding last year that displaced 45,000 families in the area. He recommended dredging activities in the marsh.

In a bid to sustain conservation efforts at the 288,000–hectare Liguasan Marsh, environment officials have called for the convergence of multi–sectoral efforts to save the resource–rich wetland from further destruction.

"We love Liguasan Marsh and we want it to be enjoyed by our future off springs. The marsh is culturally significant to the Maguindanaoans or the "People of the Marsh," said Musa C. Saruang, Department of Environment and Natural Resources — Central Mindanao technical director.

He noted the wetland has local and international ecological importance, being the reservoir of water from the provinces of North and South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Bukidnon and a known migratory path of birds from other countries.

The largest swamp in Mindanao and the second biggest in the country, Liguasan Marsh has been the object of conservation thrusts from various government and non–government organization over the years.

Saruang urged everybody to be united in preventing the further environmental deterioration of the marsh, which aside from its rich biodiversity is also a known sanctuary of rebels and other lawless armed groups.

At least 11 towns border Liguasan Marsh and were considered major stakeholders of the Ligawasan Marsh Protected Area Management plan, which was completed five years ago.

Seven of the towns are located in Maguindanao province, namely: Pagalungan, Paglat, Sultan sa Barongis, S.K. Pendatun, Datu Piang and Rajah Buayan. The others are Pikit, Kabacan, M'lang and Tulunan in North Cotabato province.

Orson Sta. Cruz, DENR foreign–assisted and special projects officer, called on the towns cutting across the marsh to adopt the management plan.

"It would be best if these municipalities will incorporate the plan in their respective annual investment plans," he said.

The annual investment plan of a local government unit identifies the items that will get funding during the period.

Alarm bells for the conservation of Liguasan Marsh have been sounded about a decade ago, drafted by the National Economic and Development Authority in Central Mindanao.

The agency formulated the Ligawasan Marsh Development Master Plan 1999–2025, which recommends that it should be accorded immediate protection and conservation prior to any development planning and intervention.

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