The Sierra Madre Mountain range recently gained attention for its vital role in shielding Luzon from the full brunt of typhoons, especially after the recent series of powerful storms that swept across the region.
Spanning over 540 kilometers, this mountain range is often referred to as Luzon’s “backbone” or “shield.” Its dense forests and towering peaks serve as a natural barrier that weakens typhoons and reduces their destructive impact, especially on densely populated areas.
Still, while a lot of us applaud its beauty and importance, far too few recognize the growing threats to the Sierra Madre and connect these to their own actions.
The Sierra Madre’s role in protecting Luzon
Super typhoons like Karding (2022) and Ulysses (2020), as well as the onslaught of successive typhoons this year, namely Kristine, Leon, Marce, Nika, Ofel and Pepito have demonstrated the Sierra Madre’s ability to mitigate destruction.
When storms make landfall, the mountain range acts as a natural buffer. It slows down wind speeds, decreases rainfall intensity, and prevents catastrophic flooding. Without it, millions of people living in low-lying areas, particularly Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, would face even greater devastation.
But the Sierra Madre doesn’t just protect us during typhoons. Its forests regulate water flow, reduce soil erosion, and store carbon, making it a critical component of climate change mitigation. The ecosystem services it provides—like clean air, water, and biodiversity—benefit not just nearby communities but the entire country.
The disconnect between praise and action
Despite the outpouring of admiration for the Sierra Madre, many Filipinos fail to connect their actions and government policies with the mountain range’s ongoing destruction.
Logging, mining, illegal settlements, and agricultural expansion continue to chip away at its forests. One of the most controversial threats is the Kaliwa Dam project, an under-construction megastructure intended to address Metro Manila’s water shortage.
The Kaliwa Dam, while marketed as a solution to the capital’s water woes, poses severe risks to the Sierra Madre. Its construction would inundate large swathes of forest and displace indigenous communities that have served as the mountain’s stewards for centuries. Beyond deforestation, the dam could alter local ecosystems, disrupt water flow, and leave the region vulnerable to landslides and flooding.
Similarly, the Masungi Georeserve, another vital forested area, has faced challenges from land grabbers and proposed infrastructure projects. While the reserve has been a symbol of environmental protection and rehabilitation, human activities threaten its delicate ecosystems. These examples illustrate a troubling trend: We applaud nature’s beauty and utility while simultaneously contributing to its destruction.
Why it matters to everyone
For residents of the city of Baguio nestled in the Cordillera region, the story of the Sierra Madre should feel familiar. Mountains and forests are not just scenic backdrops that are there to be admired or highlighted in Instagram posts.
The Cordillera’s forests, like those of the Sierra Madre, protect communities from landslides, regulate water supplies, and provide habitats for wildlife. Yet, deforestation and unregulated development threaten these vital ecosystems.
It’s easy to think of the Sierra Madre as a distant issue, affecting only those in Metro Manila or Southern Luzon. But the reality is that the health of our ecosystems is interconnected.
Losing the Sierra Madre’s forests will worsen climate change impacts by increasing the frequency and intensity of typhoons, droughts, and floods nationwide—including in Baguio and Benguet.
How to help
To truly protect the Sierra Madre—and by extension, ourselves—we need to change how we view and interact with nature.
We can do this by learning about the threats facing the Sierra Madre, from the Kaliwa Dam to illegal logging. Share this knowledge with others to build a collective understanding of why these issues matter. Schools and communities can organize discussions, workshops, or field trips to promote awareness of our forests’ importance.
Instead of building mega dams like Kaliwa, the government could explore sustainable water solutions such as watershed rehabilitation, rainwater harvesting, and small-scale water infrastructure. As citizens, we must demand that our leaders prioritize these alternatives.
Since indigenous peoples are the frontline defenders of our forests, we can support their rights to claim ancestral lands and involve them in decision-making processes crucial to preserving ecosystems like the Sierra Madre.
Many of the activities that contribute to climate change—like deforestation and overconsumption—are fueled by our own behaviors. Opt for sustainable practices, such as reducing waste, conserving energy, and supporting eco-friendly businesses.
Last but not least, we need to push for policies that protect forests and penalize illegal activities. Write to local representatives, participate in environmental campaigns, or support NGOs working on conservation efforts.
Let’s keep and grow what we have
The Sierra Madre has long protected us from nature’s wrath, standing as a testament to the resilience of our ecosystems. But this resilience is not infinite. If we continue to exploit and degrade the Sierra Madre and other vital forests, we risk losing the very things that keeps us safe.
Now is the time to act—not just for the Sierra Madre, but for all the mountains, forests, and natural resources that sustain us.
