The Town that Lost Its ‘Black Gold’

Natividad town is located at the foot of Mt. Caraballo in Pangasinan with over 12,000 has of forested area. Entry and exit posts have been put in place by authorities to monitor economic activities and watch over endangered teak trees, alingo (wild boar) and deer that still roam the mountains.

By Jhong dela Cruz
Bulatlat 

NATIVIDAD, Pangasinan - Manuel Esguerra, 48, a father of two in Sitio San Jose, Barangay (village) Cacandungan in this town, used to call his charcoal products “black gold” and the field of trees atop Mt. Caraballo (some are rare types) his “mine chamber.”

However, after the local government declared a log ban in December following an order of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Esguerra would just stare at the mountain from his shack that stands 20 meters from the Viray River.

These days, he wakes up at 4 a.m., as he prepares to go out to pick up some fallen trees in the forest. He returns to pack his Grade 6 son his “baon” (school meal).

Local officials lifted the ban on Feb. 10 - but not for forest logging. Charcoal producers are still allowed to log but only within their private lands and with the permit of the local government.

Natividad is located at the foot of Mt. Caraballo with over 12,000 has of forested area. Entry and exit posts have been put in place by authorities to monitor economic activities and watch over endangered teak trees, alingo (wild boar) and deer that still roam the mountains.

Washed out logs

In July 1990, a big earthquake hit Luzon. In Benguet province, the earthquake sent masses of logs cascading down the Viray River. People flocked to the river, picked up the logs and began building huts along the river. Some of the woods were also collected for charcoal production.

Natividad Mayor Alejandria Supnet said the town’s forests that provided timber for charcoal production to about 80 percent of its population since the 1970s should be guarded to save them from future disasters.

Many families affected by the log ban, the mayor said, are now engaged in forest tree nursery seedlings production. Varieties of trees being grown in time for the rainy season are mahogany, narra, gmelina and teak tree.

Watchdog

In a resolution by the Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) in December, the local government created its version of Task Force Bantay Kalikasan, a first of its kind in Pangasinan. Composed of local officials, the environmental watchdog includes seven barangays, namely, San Macario Norte, San Macario Sur, Cacandungan, Batchelor East, Salud, San Eugenio, San Miguel and Calapugan. Four of these (San Macario Norte, San Macario Sur, Sitio San Jose of Cacandungan and Batchelor East) have charcoal-producers.

Michael Sevilla, agricultural technologist and chair of the task force, said families were at first disgruntled over the log ban but through information campaign since January, they now understand the importance of forest management.

A typical family produces at least 20-30 sacks of charcoal twice a month with each sack fetching P100. Traders should secure permit from the local government before buying charcoal from the local producers.

Buho, a minor forest bamboo, can still be harvested at 250 poles within a year for low income families, says Sevilla.

Income derived from charcoal production is not enough for a family, however.

To compensate for the loss of income due to the DENR restrictions, Esguerra asked his wife to consider government’s offer to plant and sell forest tree seedlings. He on the other hand will go back to construction work.

Tree seedlings

Last week, local officials asked Pangasinan Gov. Victor Agbayani to help families affected by the log ban with the government buying their forest tree seedlings. Allowing the barter of goods for the seedlings, or paying for labor for reforesting the mountains were also considered.

“Even our employees from government offices have been doing their share by planting trees every Friday afternoon,” Sevilla added. The ‘Tree Planting Day’ was declared when Supnet was reelected in the last May elections.

Municipal councilors have fetched in by donating P3,000 from their countrywide development fund (CDF) for the purchase of knapsack sprayers, flashlights and communications radio for 12 forest guards.

Supnet said, “We take pride in this endeavor, because neighboring towns like San Nicolas and San Quintin have signaled their intention to follow by forming their own task force.”

A two-ha Forest Park is being built on Batchelor East which is turning out to be a favorite nature-refuge for townsfolk. Bulatlat

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