by Jebel Musa November 9, 2020 Lucena River Basin Lucena River Ba...
November 9, 2020
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| Lucena River Basin |
Lucena River Basin, which has an estimated total area of 253.0247 square kilometers, is composed of two major rivers, Dumacaa River on the east and Iyam River on the west. The river basin is an important watershed and river ecosystem that connects Lucena, Tayabas, and municipality of Lucban. Our river basin sourced its flow from Mt Banahaw, and navigates downstream and drains to Tayabas Bay. Our rivers also serve as protection and home to different species, Our rivers are also the source of food and life of other animals, and that includes us.
Our river/s is still rich in biodiversity, both in flora and fauna (its not too late
). Our river assessment data gathered, observations, and photo documentation
(birds photo by Danny Ordonez) will attest to that. Results of the observed
flora and fauna (by Eduardo Gaytano) are:Birds:
1. Brown Breasted Kingfisher (Sagaksak)
2. Collard Kingfisher
3. Common Kingfisher
4. Phil. Pied Fantail (Maria capra)
5. Phil. Bulbul (kalaga)
6. Yellow Vented Bulbul
7. Black-crowned Night Heron
8. Little Egret (Tagak)
9. Great Egret
10. Swallow (Layang-Layang)
11. Glossy Swiftlet
12. Chestnut Munia (Maya)
13. Euresian Tree Sparrow (Ibong Simbahan)
14. Phil. Collard Dove (Bato-bato)
15. Zebra Dove
16. Brown Shrike (Kilis)
17. Sun Bird (Tamsi, Pirit)
18. Hawk Eagle (Lawin)
19. Phil. Mallard (Papan)
20. Black Naped Oriole (Kilyawan)
21. Crow (Uwak)
22. Tikling
23. Brahminy Kite
Flora:
Cypress, Talisay, Camachile, Bulak, Sampaloc, Acacia, Mangga, Santol, Star Apple, Gemelina, Buli, Agoho, Antipolo, Bungliw, Dalungyan, Nyphm Tree, Bakawan (more than 5 species –still to be verified), Kawayan at mga Niyog.
And that is just almost half the length of the two rivers. Our river assessment started from Brgy 5 spillway downstream of Iyam River, and going upstream from Barra to Brgy 10 of Dumacaa river. The second part will be from spillway of Iyam river upstream, and Brgy 10 upstream of Dumacaa river.
But our rivers are facing threats because of rapid urban development, human activities - actions like unsustainable agricultural practices (fertilizer use) and dumping of material/solid waste into the river system. Threats of urban developments like man-made built infrastructure – not employing green infrastructure in building of dikes and overflow that will more likely prevent and limit the natural flow and movement of riverine system; building of houses and other infrastructure not in conformity with building code, water code, clean water act (with illegal sewage pipe connection and unhealthy water discharge), and breaking other laws; informal settlers in the riverbanks, building of roads or pathways (and others like alagaan ng kalapati at manok) on the river easement/banks, and commercial and business establishments near and within our river system; and land conversion where our swamps and wetlands are converted into fishponds.
Our City is wedge between two rivers, and almost 19 barangays share their borders with our twin rivers (7 poblacion barangays 1,3,5,7, 8, 9,10; and 11 Brgys outside poblacion - Gulang –Gulang, Ibabang Iyam, Dalahican, Ransohan, Domoit, Cotta, Market View, Barra, Salinas, Mayao and Ibabang Dupay). Estimated to be almost 20 % of our total population, our Taga-Ilog or Tabing-Ilog communities, where some of them belong to 3,900 households that had no toilets facilities (NSO 2010 census). And with post American dated drainage system (Ecological Profile 2010), designed not for 266,248 people or more (2015 Census) - designed not to have a waste water treatment facility - our twin rivers, Iyam and Dumacaa rivers, is a big septic tanks for our waste water and other toxic and focal elements. Contributing to water pollution and contaminants are the presence of open defecation or direct disposal to our bodies of water.
According to 2010 NSO census, Lucena City had been collecting 65 trucks of garbage and solid wastes on two shifts. And that’s only about 70-80 percent of garbage in the city. Unaccounted were those being thrown in our rivers. And part of the remaining 20 percent of uncollected garbage (thrown or dumped inland or in our water system), which is equivalent to 16 and ¼ of truckloads, can end-up every year in our river system. And that was ten years ago. Ten (10) years of the same percentage of uncollected garbage (hope that within those past years, we have increase our collection percentage) is equivalent or estimated to almost 160 trucks of garbage that has big chance of being dumped and deposited into our rivers and most of it will end up in our ocean (some wastes are dumped in vacant lots which will eventually carried to our rivers by floods). And we are not taking into account wastes that are coming from our upstream community, which is Tayabas City.
With these urban threats, the twin rivers and whole landscape of Lucena (including our natural environment) will be greatly vulnerable to negative changes pushing the remaining vegetative cover (trees/mangroves) and its living species to its limit - beyond the point where it cannot recover even by natural processes. Without proper planning that balances environmental protection and urbanization, Lucena City’s whole landscape will result to fragmentation and environmental degradation. The twin rivers of Lucena must be prioritize in any planning and development of the city - as the stream corridors play an important role in keeping the connectedness of the whole ecosystem and its whole urban landscape.
We must take necessary action before its too late. Save our twin rivers and the lives that depend on it. Let’s save our natural heritage and natural treasures.
Twin Rivers Assessment Team:
Jay Silva Lim
Danny Villareal Ordoñez
Eduardo Gaytano
Raymund Villalon
David Palillo
Kuya Meo
Jebel J. Musa
Boatmen from Barra (Salamat po sa Inyo):
Dennis
Gani
Leo
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