Flying over Ozamiz City in Misamis Occidental, one cannot help but see a massive mountain range that is interestingly made of forested crests, valleys and lakes. This is the Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park (MMRNP), which spans the provinces of Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur.

On August 4, 2012, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) designated the MMRNP as an ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP). The ACB defines AHPs as “protected areas of high conservation importance, preserving in total a complete spectrum of representative ecosystems of the ASEAN region.” The ACB establishes AHPs to generate greater awareness, pride, appreciation, enjoyment and conservation of the ASEAN region’s rich natural heritage through a regional network of protected areas.

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German Government awards grant to Misamis University to implement “Mt. Malindang Protection through Capability Development Project” in partnership and collaboration with the DENR-MMRNP Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), and the Provincial Government and MLGUs of Misamis Occidental.

Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park (MMRNP) is one of the Key Biodiversity in the Philippines and declared as 30th ASEAN Heritage Park in 2011. It is a watershed that provides water for industrial, commercial and domestic water supply to the estimated 566, 000 residents of Misamis Occidental, and irrigation systems to an estimated 8, 296has of ricelands in the province.

Despite its richness in natural resources, it is faced with several issues and problems such as threatened biodiversity, lack of baseline and comprehensive data on resources, lack of integrated ecosystem-based protection, conservation and rehabilitation plans; declining number of endemic species; timber poaching and illegal wildlife gathering and trading; unsustainable farming practices and limited means of livelihood; and low environmental awareness. The foregoing reasons prompted Misamis University Community Extension Program Director, Ms. Grace V. Villanueva, to submit a proposal for a project entitled as Mt. Malindang Biodiversity Protection through Capability Building to the Duetsche Gesselschaft fur International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – Protected Area Management Enhancement (PAME) Project. The proposal was approved on December 2014 and implemented this year.

The project Mt. Malindang Biodiversity Protection through Capability Building objectives are to sustain Mt. Malindang ecological services to the people of Misamis Occidental and eastern part of Zamboanga Peninsula and threats of Mt. Malindang reduced. It is supported by the Duetsche Gesselschaft fur International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – Protected Area Management Enhancement (PAME) project and a collaboration of Misamis University with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) –MMRNP Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) through the Protected Area Office (PAO) and the Provincial Local Government Unit and Municipal Local Government Units of Misamis Occidental. The total budget support from the GIZ- PAME amounts to Php 1, 469, 650.00, with the counterparts from partner offices such as DENR-PAO with Php 1, 133, 300.00, Prov. Gov. of Mis. Occ. with Php 1, 037, 500.00, and Misamis University amounting to Php 334, 080.00, on the other hand, MLGUs and Barangays counterparts to the project are in kind, transportation, personnel and others.

The innovations* of the project includes the re-training of Bantay Lasang which will enable them acquire competency to conduct assessment and identify economically important, indicator, endangered, endemic, and even invasive species in their very own communities, thereby, giving them actual, tangible data, proof and confirmation of the biodiversity they should protect, and as basis for planning, and precise accountability during monitoring and evaluation. The enlistment of BPATs will widen the protection base/social fence of MMRNP by increasing the number of persons directly concerned and accountable for Mt. Malindang protection. .

Another innovative component of the project will be the integration of Barangay E-Environmental Protection Management System to MMRNP Biodiversity Monitoring System. This project component will be with the Misamis University College of Computer Studies (CCS). This measure reinforces and adds valuable locally generated information to the system, with protection plans supported by local ordinances and legislations. The use of technology in the protection, monitoring, and evaluation for biodiversity protection and environmental management through installation of the system whereby community based field operations from 11 municipalities and 3 cities are linked to electronic database: GIS, Geo-tagging will strengthen MMRNP natural resources management, including efficient and effective enforcement.

The project, an initiative on public and private-academe partnership for biodiversity protection and environmental management will combine the scientific and technological expertise of the academe, the real world experiences of the communities, and the resources, mandate, knowledge and authority of agencies and LGUs to eventually address the threats to the very valuable biodiversity of Mt. Malindang.

The Evidence Based Biodiversity Protection and Environmental Management is one of the components of the GIZ-PAME project named Mt. Malindang Biodiversity Protection through Capability Building granted to Misamis University Community Extension Program (MUCEP) in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Protected Area Office 10 (DENR-PAO) and Provincial Local Government Unit of Misamis Occidental (PLGU). Misamis University has successfully conducted the Evidence Based Biodiversity Protection and Environmental Management training of the 130 Bantay Lasang (BLs) and 325 Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPATs) of the 65 buffer zone barangays of Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park (MMRNP) in Misamis Occidental. The training consisted of five topics which are vital in conducting the resource-based assessment on the environmental and critical condition of Mt. Malindang. These topics are the Basic Measures and Measurements, Global Positioning System (GPS) Reading, Flora Assessment, Fauna Assessment, and Focus Group Discussion. The resource persons are Forest Engr. Alfredo Garrido, faculty from the College of Agriculture and Forestry, For. Jersam C. Calago, Project Officer from Misamis University Community Extension Program (MUCEP), Ms. Yunalyn Villantes and Ms. Russel Galindo, faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences. The capability building was held at Asian Hotel, Ozamiz City last March 25-27, 2015.

The training was designed to utilize community resource based inventory assessments as the primary tool in understanding the importance of biodiversity in Mt. Malindang. The capability building of Bantay Lasang and enlistment of Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPATS) will strengthen and widen the protection base and social fence of MMRNP. The innovation in the conduct of community based resource assessment by the BLs and BPATs will show the evidence-based actual exposure to the types, classes, quantity of the biodiversity they will protect.

The first two (2) days of the training was the introduction of the five topics crucial to the actualization of the evidence-based resource assessment by the BLs and BPATs to the types, classes and quantity of the biodiversity they will protect and to enlighten them on their role being accountable to the resources they will record and plan to protect. On the third day of the training, the BLs were immersed to Bukagan Hills, Malaubang Ozamiz City where they were able to practice the assessment of flora and fauna by applying the transect walk and field diary and used the GPS in recording the coordinates of the resources they will protect.

The Bantay Lasang (BLs) participants were attentive to the discussions and diligent in every workshop activity assigned to them. They were also given some time for queries and feedbacks. Such queries were usually regarding their honorarium and security as they perform their duties and as they go back to their respective barangays. Also, they requested the DENR-PAO office to produce for them an identification card signed by the Provincial Governor and Protected Area Superintendent as a cogent evidence of their appointment as Bantay Lasang which is not part of the outputs. Some participants admitted that some of the tasks in the resource assessment are really complicated but they are willing to try their best to perform their tasks.

Ecological Strengthening through Environmental Rehabilitation and Orientation (ESTERO) program is an initiative developed by Misamis University Community Extension Program (MUCEP) in response to the Adopt-an-Estero program of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Ozamiz City that is geared towards the rehabilitation of the creeks in Ozamiz City. One of the activities designed for the ESTERO program is the Environmental Classes for Children (ECC). It is basically designed to educate the children aged 5-16 years old living along Carangan Creek on the fresh water, water cycle and the importance and functions of creeks and the ways to rehabilitate it. This activity was spearheaded by Misamis University Community Extension Program (MUCEP), with the invaluable support from the Grade School Department Faculty and National Service Training Program (NSTP) Coordinators who facilitated the classes. These 2-day classes was held on April 20-21, 2015 at Misamis University Grade School Department with 85 attending children out of 120 listed participants from barangays Carangan, Lam-an, 50th Barangay, and San Roque. This endeavor was supported by the Misamis University National Training Program and Elim Magnolia Chicken Distribution who generously donated lunch for the participants.

The participants were divided into groups according to ages 5-7, 8-9, 10-11, and 12-16. During the first day, they were able to define the fresh water and water cycle and its importance to our daily lives. Moreover, varied activities were incorporated in the discussion such as group discussion, fish tank demonstration, water cycle role playing, board games using cartolina strips, identifying a clean and dirty creek with the use of pictures and showing of video clips of creeks. Each activity awaited school supplies as prizes donated by the National Service Training Program students.

On the second day, students were enlightened on the importance and functions of creek and proper waste disposal. Moreover, in the afternoon, the participants were toured to Carangan Creek from the source in Brgy. Carangan to its estuarine in Brgy. San Roque. After the tour, the kids were able to rate and compare the situation of the creek in each barangay from one another through the Carangan Creek Health Sheet that provided them categories they are going to rate. Mostly, their rating on the Carangan Creek was very low which indicates that the situation of our Carangan Creek is bad. On April 22, 2015, the participants marched on the stage as they received their Certificates of Completion, attended by MUCEP personnel, DENR EMB 10 Senior Specialist Ms. Teresa M. Digamo, NSTP Director Dr. Virgilio H. Onganiza, and MU Grade School Principal Ms. Analyn Clarin and faculty of Grade School Department.

Another part of the program is the Cleanest Estero Portion Part II which was awarded to Barangay Carangan who garnered 83% total points. There were 2 series of Barangay inspections with the judges consisted by DENR EMB 10 Sr. Specialist Ms. Teresa M. Digamo, Public Service Officer IV Mr. Camilo Q. Candongo of Ozamiz City General Services Office, and NSTP Director Dr. Virgilio H. Onganiza.

To the Subanen, Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park, which spans the provinces of Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte in Mindanao, is home. Long considered the first caretakers of this mountain environment, the Subanen expressed pride in their ancestral domain and in its declaration as an ASEAN Heritage Park.

The Subanen (read as Suban-ons) are the indigenous peoples of the mountainous areas of the Zamboanga Peninsula, Mindanao, Philippines. They are divided into five sub-groups: Central Subanen, Northern Subanen, Koligugan Subanon, Western Subanon and Southern Subanun, each with its own dialect and geographical area. They derive their name from the Visayan word “suba” meaning river, and are thus known as the people who live along the river. The name Subanen can also be traced to Subayen (read as Subayon), another Visayan word “subay,” meaning looking through.

Mt. Malindang is considered the ancestral domain of the Subanen, who comprise 75 percent of the occupants of the park. Fernando M. Magante, Provincial Tribal Coordinator for the Subanen, relates that the Mt. Malindang is considered sacred ground by the tribe. “Wala pa ang Malindang, nandito na ang Subanen,” he relates. The Subanen believed that nature was a gift from God. “Lahat ng gawa ng Diyos, ay hindi pag-aari ng tao.” They enjoy an intimate relationship with nature, and take only what is needed. “Bawal angkinin ang lupa, at ang pagtanim ay para lamang sa pagkain.” The Subanen survived on the bounty of Mt. Malindang, the forests of which thrived with fruit, honey, deer, wild boar, and other wildlife.

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