Madre

An effective barrier

September 27, 2022 People's Tonight 376 views

THE 540-kilometer long Sierra Madre mountain range plays a critical role in protecting Luzon against powerful and destructive typhoons and storms coming from the vast Pacific Ocean.

Teeming with wildlife facing extinction, the mountain range showed anew “just how crucial it is in protecting us against extreme weather events,” according to Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles.

Note that the rugged terrain of Sierra Madre weakened super Typhoon Karding, reducing its strength before battering the Metropolitan Manila (MM) area and other Luzon provinces.

The onslaught of the howler thrust outfront anew the need to hasten the passage of House Bill No. 1972, which seeks the creation of the “Sierra Madre Development Authority (SMDA).”

Congressman Nograles called for the immediate approval of the proposed legislation on Monday, September 26, when the Filipino people celebrated the annual “Save Sierra Madre Day.”

Every year, the people celebrate “Save Sierra Madre Day” to remind the public of the dangers of the continuous degradation of the 540-kilometer long mountain range in Luzon.

Under HB No. 1972, SMDA is tasked to conserve and manage the mountain range, which serves as an effective barrier against typhoons and storms emanating from the Pacific Ocean.

Aside from housing most of the country’s 68 “protected areas,” the vital mountain range also plays a key role in Metropolitan Manila’s major water supply demands.

That’s why we cannot overemphasize the importance of protecting and preserving the Sierra Madre mountain range in the face of the worsening of climate change.

As Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles said, the Filipino people ought to “act now…and fast.”

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