Fulfilling A Dream: CSA-JP and UIC-CDS Inks MOA to Reforest Watershed Area

Arakan, Cotabato—Sitting on an elevation of 3,060.7 feet above mean sea level, Datu Ladayon in Arakan, Cotabato is politically located under SocSkSarGen in Region 12 but under the Basic Ecclesial Community of Sto. Nino of San Miguel Parish, Marahan of the Archdiocese of Davao.

Based on its geographic coordinates, Datu Ladayon lies within the Davao River Basin, which ultimately discharges into the Davao Gulf.

A once forested area, now only an estimated 1% comprises its forest cover that concerns most of its church and civic leaders in the area.

“Ang akoa lang jud dream sukad pa kaniadto nga maghimo jud ko ug lasang,” (It is just my dream ever since to make a forest) bared Dr. Corazon Mamon-Umblero, Director of the Community Development Service of the University of the Immaculate Conception during the Memorandum of Agreement signing with Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace with the Archdiocesan Desk for the Care of Creation and the local government unit of Barangay Datu Ladayon witness by San Miguel Parish priest, Fr. Ariel Bulan, MJ.

The 2.5 hectares of land up in the mountains of Datu Ladayon is under the usufruct agreement of UIC and Dr. Umblero now being subjected to a reforestation in cooperation with CSA-JP with the ADCC and the local barangay.

MOA Signing (left-right): Dr. Corazon Mamon-Umblero of UIC-CDS, Brgy. Chairman Jonathan Ramirez, and Rev. Fr. Leonardo Dublan, CSA-JP Director.

Datu Ladayon Barangay Chairman, Jonathan Ramirez, expressed his gratitude to the church volunteers present during the MOA signing that has given hope to realize his dream to recover the forest, its flora and fauna that he witnessed many years ago vanish through logging and other activities endangering the watershed area.

“Ang tanang lungsod sa Arakan, nagasalig niining bukira tungod sa tubig,” Ramirez added, “nakipag-coordinate na ang Marilog nga magkuha pud ug tubig dinhi tungod kay nagkulang na pud ang ilang tubig didto sanglit kining tubig gikan niining bukira – mao ni ang kinabuhi sa mga tawo sa palibot.”

(The whole municipality of Arakan, depends on this mountain because of its water… even Marilog would like to tap our water source since they now also lack water; this mountain’s water source is life to the people living around this area.)

He revealed that the barangay has organized volunteers called BANTAY KALIKASAN to watch and monitor illegal cutting of trees in the area, a vital component to the reforestation project.

CSA-JP Director, Rev. Fr. Leonardo A. Dublan, Jr. also expressed his gratitude to UIC-CDS Director and CSA-JP Commission member Dr. Umblero, the Parish Disaster Action Reaction Team of San Isidro Labrador Parish, Lumondao, Vicariate heads of CSA-JP-ADCC present.

“Ang nakatandog gyud nako mao nga kining atong gihimo karon, we are starting the dream and the suggestion of Pope Francis kay ang pagbalik sa kabuhatan dili lihok sa usa ka sektor lamang .. kini siya mao kini atong gitawag nga synergy of effort kay mas kusog ang lihok sa magtambayayong alang sa kabuhatan kay sa mag-inusara lamang,” Fr. Dublan said. (What touched me most is what we are doing now, we are starting the dream and the suggestion of Pope Francis to recover creation not only by one sector only – this is what we call synergy of effort because its more powerful action in joint effort for creation instead of work of only one.)

ADCC coordinator, Engr. Charleo Modequillo revealed that after the ceremonial planting of endemic tree seedlings, different groups from the parishes are expected to follow the same in order to fill up the 2.5 hectares in 3 years time with a target of 5,000 trees planted and cared for the future generation.