Let's Green the Cordillera!!!

CGN staff donate relief goods to the typhoon Pepeng victims in Kayan, Mt. province last Oct. 18, 2009. The goup started the trip around 10am of Oct. 17 and reach Kayan arouround 10 am the following day because of the condition of the Halsema highway.. There were 17 houses destroyed; 4 are vacant. Victims were burried already when the group reach the area. As of that moment, LGU's, volunteers and the community itself were breaking the big stones above the community because they might fall down again, they are negotiating to the ricefield owners so that they will divert the canals away from the area and they are looking for possible relocation site. They are planning to invite a geologist expert if they find the area..

Halsema Highway is the major highway of Cordillera connecting Baguio City and to the other provinces of Cordillera. Last October 8, typhoon Pepeng stirred Cordillera, portions of the road has been washed out it was difficult to reach the provinces. The road has been impassable. Relief goods for the victims of mudslides had been airlifted to bring it to the provinces. Victims of mudslides from Atok, Buguias, Mankayan and Tadian were airlifted and had been brought to the hospitals in Baguio City. Last October 17,2009 CGN staff went to Tadian to bring relief goods to the victims of landslide it took them more than 10 hours to reach Tadian  passing thru Halsema Highway.

Yesterday, Oct. 14,  Christy Aban, the president of IYAMAN an NGO based in La Trinidad came to the CGN office together with Mr. Imaizumi to report the case of Brgy. Pasdong in Atok, Benguet. Pasdong is a small farming community located 30 Km going down from the Halsema Highway.  A big landslide occured in the area wherein 4 persons were killed, 1 is still missing and 8 were injured. These injured men were trying to save an old man and woman and were checking for the water level of the river. They brought the rescued villagers to the community church but unfortunately the men, the church, the clinic, the Brgy.Hall, the school, 10 houses and 6 hectares of rice field went under tons of mud and rocks when a whole mountain facing the village suddenly eroded. All the evacuees in the church were found dead and the  injured men were brought to Sayangan Hospital on foot for first aid treatment and then brought to Km16 also on foot where vehicles were waiting for them to be transferred to Baguio General Hospital.

It took 2 days before the injured men reached BGH and they suffered massive blood loss, infection and are in great need for blood and financial help for medicines and food.  Brgy. Pasdong remains isolated due to the large landslides along Km 16 to Km35 of Halsema Highway and are in much need of relief goods. According to one of the officials, they have only received 2 sacks of rice as of Oct. 13. The  community has lost  a big part of its farm lands and all roads leading to it are destroyed. There is no electricity in the area now so communication with the people is impossible.

We would like to ask for any help for the residents and the surviving victims from Pasdong, Atok specially food, medicines, and blood donations. We will be closely working with IYAMAN and bring any donations we have directly to the victims of Pasdong, Atok.

Last Oct. 10, some CGN staff including the director and CGN scholars of BSU were able to visit the Little Kibungan landslide din Puguis, La Trinidad. They brought with them clothes and food for the evacuation center. There are still more areas needing assistance but the washed out Halsema Road have prevented the entry of much needed help. CGN is now calling out to possible donors for the victims of the typhoon in Benguet and rest assured, we will bring the help to where it is much needed.

To reach Cordillera Green Network:

Address:
14D General Lim St.
Baguio City
Philippines

Postal Address:
P.O. Box 540 Baguio City
Phillipines 2600

Bank Account:
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
Cordillera Green Network Inc.
Saving 0573-3058-76
Baguio-Session Branch

Email: cgn@skyinet.net
Tel. No.: 074-423-0839

Making the outlet pipe, safety bottle and positioning the digester in the pit

Making the hole for the gas cock where the methane gas will pass going to the gas storage tank. Testing the digester using an aircompressor.

This project in Pasil, Kalinga aims to promote sustainable agriculture among Kalinga farmers and teach young kids about the environment around them. It will be implemented in all 14 barangays of Pasil, Kalinga. This project started in August of 2008.