The Mt. Data Dilemma

After speaking with the community officials, students, and teachers, I now have a more detailed and complete picture of Mt. Data. I completed a small workshop in order to assess and prioritize the needs of the community. I was surprised to see that nearly everyone agreed on the most pressing issues here: Conserving the forest and sustaining the watershed. But these problems are not easy to fix, and the more questions I ask the more complicated it gets. First a quick history of this place.

Back in the day, the Americans ran a sawmill here. That explains why so many of the hills are bald here. Even above the school is a huge mound of sawdust which they have graded flat to use as a track and field. People from all over the region came to work at the sawmill. When, the Americans left, they turned it over to the Filipinos. However, shortly after, the National People’s Army burned it down because they refused to pay them tax. With no more sawmill to employ the people, many simply moved back home.

What is left is a small community of maybe 100 families. The only source of employment here is the Mt. Data Lodge, and the two public schools. However, even most of the teachers return home every weekend, and simply board here during the week. Many other families also leave to go back to their families on weekends and holidays.

This seems to be the biggest barrier to solving problems. Although the community is populated, very few call it their home. Mt. Data is not their place of origin, so they feel no responsibility to sustain it. The community officials have found it difficult and nearly impossible to encourage people to care for the land or volunteer labor to help clean or provide deterrence.

Mt. Data is a farming community, so the land needed for gardens is just as important as the forest. The people seem to understand this dilemma, but aren’t sure how to go about setting it straight. I hope I can help. They are interested in building a fence around the water shed, and then someone asked if I can help with “social fencing.” I said of course I’ll give  it a shot.

As for the school, the teachers would like some trainings and workshops on library management, counseling, and teaching techniques. The students would like sports equipment and more computers. I’m excited to get started helping them.

Of course I forgot my camera again so pictures will have to wait!