ORANI, Bataan- A priest, a high public official and an environmental planner on Saturday questioned the construction on the slope of the Bataan National Park in Orani, Bataan that collapsed Wednesday afternoon after several days of heavy rains.
A big portion of the riprap allegedly constructed by private construction Horam Abi at the slopes in Barangay Tala in Orani collapsed and caused tons of soil to erode from the cliff.
Father Alex Indino, parish priest of barangay Tala in Orani, said he could not understand why construction was permitted in a supposedly protected area. He said that even when big trucks began coming up, he was already surprised and worried.
“Bakit hinayaang magtayo dito? Nakikita na natin na mismong kalikasan ay nagsasabi na talagang protected area ito at hindi papayagan ng Panginoon na ganito lang ang mangyayari,” the priest said.
He said that the landslide that destroyed and buried water pipes was a big problem for residents of Barangays Tala and Pag-asa, two upland villages at the foot of the Bataan national park in Orani.
“Bilang amang simbahan, katungkulan kong makialam at patuloy akong magpapahayag sa mga tao at baka sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaisa ay hindi na maulit ang ganyan na hindi karapat-dapat sa barangay na ito,” Indino said.
Felicito Payumo, chairman of the Bases Conversion Development Authority, said the landslides destroyed the clean river, the concrete steps used by picnickers in going down the slopes to the Orani River and the water supply of residents.
“Ang hindi namin maintindihan ay kung bakit ginagalaw ang lugal na ito ng Bataan National Park. Dapat hindi ginagalaw at hindi ginagamitan ng heavy equipment tulad ng bulldozer sapagka’t ang lupa dito ay very fragile,” he said.
Payumo said the pipes for the water system supporting the water needs of residents in two villages were destroyed and will need three months to rehabilitate.
“Ibig sabihin niyan, walang tubig for their domestic use, for their crops ang mga tao dito,” he said.
As former congressman of Bataan’s first District, Payumo provided funds through his Countryside Development Fund for the initial construction of the water system.
He visited the area Saturday and was so worried that the construction will destroy the natural beauty of the Bataan National Park.
Architect Nestor David, an environmental planner, said they were already worried even before the landslide.
“Slopes of mountains are susceptible to erosion and we should not be disturbed,” he said.
David said even at the start, the development was wrong and provided negative intervention to the environment.
“Planning should have sensitivity to the natural systems, dapat binabasa kung anong lugal ang ginagalaw,” he said.
“Ang ginawa cut and fill, inuka ang gilid ng bundok at ni-riprap. Ang kulang na lupa para lumaki kapatagan tinambakan eh lumakas at sunod-sunod ang ulan kaya bumigay,” David said.
