Kristine Manalang

Introduction The Samahan ng mga Maagsasaka sa Paanan ng Bundok Makiling is an association of group of farmers living along the side of Mt. Makiling. The association is composed of four committees namely Health, Organization, Peace and Order and Infrastructure. The association was officially registered last March 26, 1993. The group was created to address the various problems arising within the community and at the present, Mr. Vitaliano Pelñaver leads the organization as the association’s president. Brief History During the Marcos regime, residents of the area were relocated to Caldong Quezon to give way to the creation of the National Art Center. However, since the area in Quezon provides poor soil and no available livelihood, the residents decided to head back to this site of the Makiling. According to them, they favored the present area due to its rich soil and close access to the road where they can easily sell the products that they have harvested. At the present, the organization1 is faced with the problem regarding the community’s Patubig project. 1 Note: The officers of the organizations confessed that they did not ask for any permission or permit when they established the community Background Information Population and Livelihood The area of Purok 7 of Barangay Timugan consists of 92 families or 130 heads of the families excluding children. There are about 100 children in the area alone. Although the Samahan stated of monitoring the growth of population in their community since one of the provisions given by the MCME 2 was the prohibition of establishing new houses in the area, they admitted that such growth and increase in numbers of children could never be prevented as number of marrying couples also increases. In addition, members of the executive officers themselves also confessed that even they have a large family. From the set of officers we have interviewed, most have 5-6 children on the average. The reason, as some had stated, was that all of their offspring were male and they wanted to have a daughter (and vice versa) so they never stop until they do, while others pronounced that most marrying couples in their area were still young think of the consequences and responsibilities of having a family. 2 Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystem The residential area with the farm is estimated to measure 55 hectares. Aside from selling agricultural product from the agroforestry farm they have established reserved forested within area the of mount Makiling, residents of Purok 7 are also engaged in working into the nearest dumpsite (also located along the side of Mount Makiling), in construction, or as drivers of both tricycle and jeepneys, while women serve as either vendors or as house keepers in the low land subdivisions areas. Farmers are estimated to waged 500.00 pesos in a week of selling their products while scavenging reusable materials such as steel let them earn 500.00 to 1,000.00 pesos per day of work. During periods when fruit trees and vegetables where out of season, farmers worked as either scavengers or driver. Community & the Environment Due to rapid increase in population within the area of Mount Makiling, an increase in the residential area can also be observed. As the number people increases, the need to satisfy the demands of the existing community for a larger land use area also increases resulting to a neglect in environmental concerns on the part of the existing community community. had Moreover, already the established cemented canals, pathways and concrete houses indicating their level of permanence within the vicinity. Aside from such concerns, the locale is also observed to be abundant in children which coincides with the community’s economic condition as some of the needs of these children were not achieved such as education. Although the community is utilizing almost everything within their reach, from a personal view, it is inferred that such financial resources incurred by the head of the family cannot sustain the needs of the whole family. Add to it was the statement given by one of the officers of the Samahan when she indicated that even her offspring help their father scavenge the dumpsite. Problems and Issues Aside from the existing problems in population and poverty, the community with the organization, is also faced with issues regarding the legality of their existence in the area and their problem on their proposed right for available water. Although the organization had putted up a bank account to supply the Patubig project in their community, the money (PHP 10,000.00) proves to be still not enough to build the project. Moreover, the organization itself also faces its own trouble as the former treasure refuses to sign the withdrawal slip unabling the organization to fully manage its finances. Due to the community’s condition, the municipality of Los Baños refuses to give them the support they needed in terms of permit and financial assistance. The organization also stated that they received no benefits from both the local government and the barangay although they have indicated some “generous” politicians like Mayor Perez who have given them PHP 10,000.00 which, according to them, was his own money when they caroled in his house last Christmas and Congressman Chipeco who have granted them PHP 25,000.00 in check a day before our visit. Mr. Vic Pelñaver stated that Cong. Chipeco’s financial grant was only the first official financial assistance they have received so far from the government. Since the university has the complete jurisdiction on the area of Mount Makiling including the vicinity where Purok 7 is located, the community has to comply with the provisions set by MCME that includes the obtaining of permits. The Samahan complained that the approval of such permits is hard to obtain. Aside from the condition that they are prohibited to build new houses and infrastructures, the community is also forbidden to repair structures and damaged houses that is, according to them, very hard to do. Another issue pointed out by President Peñaver was his problem on the Chancellor’s promise that a permit will already be secured to them concerning their proposed Patuig project. According to him, the chancellor has already agreed in a meeting that a Patubig project is indeed needed in Purok 7. However, MCME do not agree otherwise. According to him, the MCME stated that they are still required to pass a formal letter since the approval of such project needs the consent of the higher office and that the chancellor still had not officially agreed on their proposal. Analysis of Social Equity Issues On the part of the community officers of the organization, the University served inequality and inequity in them. On the argument of permits, members of the community belonging to Purok 7 see that the University had favored the Barangay Silangan over them. President Peñaver stated that when a dialogue had occurred between them and MCME he persuaded that if a permit should be issued, they should received it first because they need it most and they were just poor unlike a resident of one of the subdivisions in Calamba City who are asking for the same permit. Moreover, since at the present MCME had not issued them the permit they wanted to build up the project the community needed, the officers of the organization assumed that the office of MCME is against them. In an interview, the president of the Samahan stated: “Nanagako si Chancellor na pwede kaming magtayo ng patubig pero nalaman naming na may isang sangay daw na ayaw kaming payagan, at alam naman naming na MCME un…” Analyzing the situation between the University and the existing community, the situation can be examined and summarized in to two views using two different tables. Table.1 Analysis of social equity issues on the part of community members. Indicator of Injustice Community’s Element of experience Environmental Justice (based on an interview)  Issuance of  There is hard  Poverty permits issuance of permit  Their group is not well represented  Prioritization of the University Table.1 Analysis of social equity issues on the part of the University of the Philippines. Indicator of Injustice The University’s Element of experience Environmental Justice  Privatization of  Illegal  Violations of University establishment of policies and managed community prohibition set by properties the University to  Number of illegal the community settlers will continue to increase if permits and other benefits will be given Conclusion and Recommendation Summing up the information gathered from the interview, the condition of the community can be seen to reflect and satisfy most of the points mirrored in both Innate inferiority and Cultural inferiority of the poverty theory. Though the community seemed to have an organized institution that manages and functions well (because the organization managed to raise funds and create comities to effectively govern the whole community), the position they are in and problems they face mostly reasoned on these two theories. Breaking down the Points The community’s problem on settlement generally is rooted on the attitude of the community members. Although the people knew that they do not have titles of the area and that the University has the complete jurisdiction of the area, the people still believed that they have the complete right to stay and have the resources they needed. On the part of the community, they viewed the situation as unfairly and unequally distributed on their side but judging and looking at the conditions in a bigger image, the community is still fortunate that the University is generous to let them reside within the reserved area of Mt. Makiling and establish an agroforestry farm with in it. Although the University had set a prohibition on the establishment of new infrastructures, the organization still had created a committee that dealt on the establishment of new houses that completely violates the prohibition. The community’s problem on population reflects mainly on both theories. Despite the organizations manifestation of monitoring the population, the officers seemed to be unaware of the number of children the community already have. The members claimed to know family planning but reasoned that the Barangay clinic is located at the low land areas of the Barangay and that such activities could never be prevented as it is part of living. The habit of reproducing seemed to have been the culture of most families that the futures of these children were taken into risks. In addition, the heads of the families also seemed to be unaware of the direct link between a big family and poverty. The application of structural theory is less likely to be seen as significant because the government through the University is doing all possible solutions to suppress and control the expansion of the community within the area to conserve Mount Makiling. Flaws are mostly seen on the community due to their continuous violations of the University’s conditions. If the community is poor or requires a bigger land, it is because its members lack the capability to control the population that leads to the great requiring of the Makiling’s resources. Recommendations There are only two possible recommendations regarding the present conditions of the community and the university. First is the immediate controls of the community’s population to furtherly prevent the effects of poverty and prevent further consumption of the mountain’s valuable resources. Secondly was the rehabilitation of the community in other areas where soil is productive and nearer to the market which can provide them alternative livelihood. If the latter will be achieved, the people will not have re-establish their community at this side of the reserved area.