MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers are pushing for stronger protection of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range through a proposed measure that would create a dedicated agency to oversee its management and conservation.
House Speaker Faustino Dy III said a Technical Working Group is now deliberating House Bill 3538, which seeks to establish the Sierra Madre Mountain Range Authority (SMMRA). The proposed body would serve as the central policy-making, coordinating, and regulatory agency for the mountain range.
Dy stressed that the Sierra Madre serves as a natural barrier protecting large parts of Luzon—including Metro Manila and the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Rizal, and Quezon—from typhoons, floods, and landslides.
He noted that recent disasters highlight the direct link between environmental protection and community safety, emphasizing that flood control efforts should not rely on infrastructure alone but must also include the preservation of forests, watersheds, and ecosystems.
Under the bill, stricter safeguards would be enforced to protect the Sierra Madre from destructive activities such as illegal logging and mining.
Dy also underscored the need for proactive measures, saying risks must be addressed before future storms hit by strengthening nature’s capacity to absorb rainfall and mitigate flooding.
He added that local communities should be engaged as partners in conservation efforts while being supported in sustaining their livelihoods.
The proposal comes amid increasing threats from extreme weather, with the protection of the Sierra Madre seen as a crucial step in reducing disaster risks and safeguarding lives and property.
