“Why is it so hard to do the right thing in this country?”
(Atty. Antonio Oposa., Jr.)

A forest in Cebu City.What forest in Cebu City are we talking about?
Yes, perhaps many are not aware that we have a forest in Cebu city. It is located in
Barangay Tabunan, Cebu City, 23-27 kilometers from the city proper along the
Transcentral Highway.

This forest is part of the Kotkot-Lusaran Watershed Forest Reserve, which has been declared a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586, otherwise known as the NIPAS Act of 1992.
This forest is a vital source of the water supply of Cebu City. In the April 9, 2006 issue of the Cebu Daily News (CDN), the Tabunan forest is described as the single most important site for conservation in Cebu, according to the Cebu Biodiversity Conservation Foundation (CBCF). This forest is the largest known patch of mature lowland forest on the island of Cebu and the only site in Cebu where a closed canopy forest remains. It supports the largest remaining populations of most of the threatened and restricted-range bird species found in Cebu.
On November 15, 2000, through the government’s “Adopt-a-Mountain Program”, then Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Antonio Cerilles entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with Tiburcio Fusilero to undertake the rehabilitation, protection and conservation of a 504-hectare portion of the Tabunan forest for a period of 25 years, this portion is the Cantipla forest.
Conscious of the huge tasks ahead, Fusilero sought for helping hands. This paved the way
for the creation of the Kantipla Ecosystems Enhancement and Protection Foundation, Inc.
(KEEP Foundation) to insure the implementation of the 25-Year Integrated Management
Plan prepared by the DENR for the Cantipla forest.
Since 2000, KEEP Foundation, in cooperation with other groups, managed to plant 46,287 trees covering 192.30 hectares in line with its reforestation or restoration program. In terms of forest conservation and protection, 27 cases of apprehensions of violators of forest laws have been made, of which 6 cases were formally filed.
The present controversy opens an opportunity for us to be aware of and involved in this project, understand its purpose, its needs, the risks it is facing, and the implication of any decision and action that we may take.

By: Atty. Armando M. Alforque
Secretary, Kantipla Ecosystems Enhancement
& Protection Foundation, Inc.