It is surprising to note that very few Caviteños realize that amidst a busy surrounding and a modernized Cavite lies Mts. Palay-palay/Mataas na Gulod National Park, a virgin forest and the lone national park in Cavite awaiting to be admired and to be showered with care. Its lush trees and serene atmosphere attract a wide variety of flora and fauna some of which are endemic. But as these creatures prefer to dwell in this place, threats to the forest park abound. As God’s creations, they too, need to be protected, restored, and conserved.
Responding to the need of informing the public on the importance of the forest park, Cavite Studies Center and De La Salle University-Dasmariñas set out to conduct a conference on the environmental preservation, conservation and restoration of Mts. Palay-palay/Mataas na Gulod National Park in Maragondon, Cavite; August 17-18.
The activity was a response to DLSU-D’s commitment towards community change as revealed in the university’s three areas of research thrust – preservation and conservation of natural resources, community development and research on culture and the arts. It was also basically in line with the Commission on Higher Education’s directive of conducting researches with concrete impact on the community. This commitment was materialized through a Memorandum of Understanding between DLSU-D and the Protected Areas Management Board-Department of Environment and Natural Resources (PAMB-DENR), Region IV signed on September 5, 2002.
The first day activity held at the PATAMESA Gym of Maragondon Central Elementary School featured paper presentations on the park’s record of flora and fauna and the distribution patterns of mosses, fresh water crabs, frogs, bats and snails. The profile of Mts. Palay-Palay as well as the researches and studies made were also discussed.
Paper presenters included nine faculty from the Biological Sciences Department (BSD) led by Ms. Alma Macahia.
DENR Undersecretary Armando de Castro, keynote speaker of the said conference, gave further details on the measures undertaken by the DENR in implementing some of its most extensive environmental protection mechanisms in the country. He even encouraged the public to participate in the realization of these environmental efforts.
Representatives from DLSU-D include Dr. Veronidia de Leon, vice president for academics and research, Dr. Cristina Salibay, College of Science (COS) dean and Prof. Teresita Unabia, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts. Mayor Monte Andaman of Maragondon, Mayor Conrado Lindo of Ternate, and District Supervisor Dr. Divinia Nario also took part in the conference.
A multisectoral meeting transpired at the Cavite National Science High School the following day. CSC Director Emmanuel Calairo directed the discussion on the measures to be taken into consideration in the park’s preservation. PAMB members, DENR-IV representatives, tenured migrants, LGU officials, marines, students, and teachers interacted in the discussion. A field exposure at Mts. Palay-palay where tree planting was done highlighted the second day’s afternoon activity.
The conference was made possible through the joint efforts of the provincial government of Cavite, the municipal governments of Maragondon and Ternate, DepEd-Maragondon and Ternate, Philippine Marines, Cavite West Point College, DLSU-D, BSD, COS and the University Faculty Research Office.