Rizal lawmaker pushes for Sierra Madre Dev’t Authority after Karding’s onslaught

A lawmaker on Monday renewed his call to pass a law establishing the Sierra Madre Development Authority (SMDA) to protect the Sierra Madre mountain range in light of the devastation brought by Super Typhoon Karding over the weekend.

Rizal Representative Fidel Nograles pushed for House Bill 1972 which sought to place the responsibility of the conservation and management of the 540-kilometer mountain range on the SMDA.

“Amid the threat of Karding, Sierra Madre has once again shown just how crucial it is in protecting us against extreme weather events. The SMDA will help us preserve this shield in the face of a worsening climate crisis,” Nograles said in a statement.

Nograles said the SMDA would also lead the government’s anti-illegal logging and reforestation campaigns, prevent construction of unwarranted and illegal infrastructure, enhance and develop indigenous resources in the areas that can be utilized for development, and educate people on the importance of the mountain range.

The proposal mandates the SMDA to conduct a comprehensive survey of the Sierra Madre region's physical and natural resources, as well as draft a comprehensive plan to conserve and utilize them to promote its social and economic development.

"It will also plan, program, finance and undertake infrastructure projects such as river, flood, and tidal control work, wastewater and sewerage work, dams and water supply, roads, irrigation, housing, and related work; and 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," Nograles said.

Sierra Madre is a key water source of Metro Manila as well as the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Aurora, Quezon, Rizal, Laguna, and Bulacan. —NB, GMA News