The Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Climate Resilient Agriculture Office (CRAO) and the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), joins the observance of the Save Sierra Madre Day on September 26, 2024.
The Save Sierra Madre Day is a yearly observance by virtue of Proclamation No. 413 to remind Filipinos of the dangers that the lack of concern and action for the Sierra Madre Mountains may bring. It seeks to boost awareness among the general public on the importance of preserving the country’s forests as well as protecting, managing, and properly utilizing the natural resources of the country.
Often referred to as the “backbone of Luzon,” the Sierra Madre Mountains is the longest mountain range in the Philippines. According to data from the Forest Foundation Philippines, it has a land area of approximately 1.4 million hectares, spanning the Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON regions.
Sierra Madre is home to some of the country’s richest and most unique flora and fauna. Beyond its biodiversity, it plays a crucial role in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The mountain range serves as an effective barrier against storms coming into the eastern Luzon area from the Pacific Ocean, slowing them down, giving authorities more time to prepare for the storms’ possible adverse effects.
The DA CRAO and the PCAF encourage the public to pursue simple activities geared toward protecting and conserving the Sierra Madre Mountains, such as planting trees, managing waste efficiently, and using eco-friendly products.
Protecting the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges is important for the agriculture sector, as it prevents flooding, reduces soil erosion, and regulates water supply for irrigation. It enhances climate resilience by preserving ecosystems that support sustainable farming and safeguard agricultural livelihoods.
To promote the observance, the DA CRAO under the Adaptation and Mitigation Initiatives in Agriculture (AMIA) Program and through its Facebook account, @AMIA.PH, led an online campaign aimed at increasing the awareness of the public on the event. The campaign featured an online “Guess the Word” game and a series of social media posts about the observance and ways the public can show their support in their own simple ways.
Under the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries’ Committee on Climate Change, Environment, and Natural Resources (CCENR) Policy Resolution No. 9, Series of 2024, the committee calls on the DA CRAO to lead the annual observance within the DA.###