IPINANUKALA ni Rizal 2nd District Congressman Fidel Nograles ang pagtatayo ng Sierra Madre Development Authority (SMDA) upang maproteksyunan ang kabundukan ng Sierra Madre.

Sa kanyang House Bill (HB) 5634, sinabi ni Nograles na panahon na para pagtuunan ng pansin ang pagpoprotekta sa 500 kilometrong kabundukan na unti-unti na umanong nakakalbo dahil sa walang habas na illegal logging activities.

Ginawa ni Nograles ang nasabing panukala kasunod ng malawakang pagbaha na naranasan ng Marikina, Rizal hanggang sa Isabela at Cayagan matapos manalasa ang bagyong Ulysses.

Ayon sa mambabatas, dahil nauubos ang mga kahoy sa nasabing kabundukan ay wala nang proteksyon ang mga tao sa pagbaha kaya panahon na aniya para magkaroon ng government body na poprotekta sa nasabing kabundukan.

“Malaki talaga ang impact nito. The increased frequency and severity of flooding in areas close to the Marikina River, as well as in towns in the Cagayan Valley are attributed to the loss of Sierra Madre’s forest cover––and we can no longer ignore this,” ayon sa Harvard trained-lawyer.

“There is clearly a need to provide this vital mountain range with further safeguards and protection while finding ways to responsibly develop part of the range not under its protected areas,” dagdag pa ni Nograles.

Bukod sa mapoprotektahan ang mga komunidad sa ibaba ng Sierra Madre laban sa pagbaha ay matutulungan din ng SMDA ang mga katutubo na nakatira sa nasabing kabundukan.

Kabilang sa magiging tungkulin ng SMDA sa sandaling maitatag ito ay:

• conduct a comprehensive survey of the physical and natural resources of the Sierra Madre region and the draft a comprehensive plan to conserve and utilize the said resources in order to promote the region’s social and economic development

• provide the machinery for extending the necessary planning, management, and technical assistance to prospective and existing investors in the region

• provide recommendations to the proper agencies regarding the financing and technical support to be given to agricultural, industrial, and commercial projects

• assess and approve all plans, programs, and projects proposed by local government offices/agencies within the region related to the development of the mountain range

• plan, program, finance and undertake infrastructure projects such as river, flood, and tidal control work, waste water and sewerage work, dams and water supply, roads, irrigation, housing and related work

• undertake studies on the conservation, improvement, exploration, development, and maintenance of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range

Pangungunahan ito ng Board of Directors (BOD) na may 9 miyembro na kinabibilangan ng executive secretary; National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General; mga secretary ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at Department of Energy (DOE).

Kasama rin sa BOD ang chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), mga governor at mayors ng mga lalawigan at munisipalidad na nasa kabahaan ng Sierra Madre Region at General Manager ng SMDA na itatalaga ng pangulo ng Pilipinas.

“The SMDA will ensure coordination and cooperation among all these, resulting in a coherent and comprehensive strategy that will protect the Sierra Madre’s forest cover while allowing for sustainable development,” ani Nograles.