AS THE NATION celebrates “Save Sierra Madre Day,” we are reminded of the historic and environmental importance of the country’s most significant mountain range.
Declared through Presidential Proclamation No. 413 in 2012, the observance designates every 26th of September as a day to campaign for the protection and conservation of what is deemed as a formidable shield against natural disasters.
For one, the Sierra Madre is considered as the “Mother of All Mountains.”
Even before World War II, it earned the title “Fortress of the Philippine Islands” for its role as a barrier that cushions the impact of typhoons and cyclones from the Pacific.
Stretching across eastern Luzon, the mountain range has safeguarded millions of residents from storms for generations.
THEATER OF OPS
During World War II, the Sierra Madre served as a theater of operations and refuge for American and Filipino forces against the Japanese Shimbu Group.
Key battles were fought around Wawa and Ipo Dams in 1945, while its dense forests gave cover to thriving guerrilla units who sabotaged enemy lines and aided stranded soldiers.
The mountains thus became not only a natural shield but also a stronghold of resistance.
UNESCO LIST
At over 540 kilometers long, the Sierra Madre runs from Cagayan down to Quezon. To its east lies the Pacific Ocean; to its west, the vast plains of Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon.
Some coastal communities on its eastern side remain so remote that they are accessible only by boat or small aircraft, preserving a way of life far from modern congestion.
The Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park in Isabela is already the country’s largest protected area and sits on UNESCO’s tentative World Heritage List.
Conservationists are urging the government to expand this recognition to cover the entire range from Cagayan to Quezon, citing its extraordinary biodiversity and ecological value.
NATURAL SHIELD
When typhoons strike, the Sierra Madre acts as a first line of defense. Its rugged terrain and forest cover weaken storms by disrupting wind circulation, slowing wind speeds, and reducing storm surges further inland.
Weather experts noted that powerful systems such as Super Typhoon Karding (2022), Ompong (2016), Ondoy (2009), and others were significantly weakened after crossing the range.
This protective shield has spared Metro Manila and central Luzon provinces from far greater destruction. However, the mountains also produce orographic rainfall: moist air lifted by the slopes increases rainfall in areas like Metro Manila while reducing it in the Cagayan Valley, creating both benefits and risks.
UNDER THREAT
Despite its value, the Sierra Madre faces alarming threats. Illegal logging, mining, and unchecked infrastructure projects strip away its forest cover, weakening its natural defenses. Deforestation makes low-lying areas more prone to floods and landslides, while also wiping out habitats of endangered species.
The destruction of Sierra Madre not only endangers communities but also erodes one of the country’s last ecological frontiers. Its biodiversity is irreplaceable, yet increasingly fragile.
MUST CONSERVE
“Save Sierra Madre Day” was created to highlight these dangers and encourage collective action. Government agencies, schools, and communities are tasked to organize activities that promote conservation awareness.
The call is clear: protecting Sierra Madre means protecting millions of Filipino lives, preserving water sources, and safeguarding biodiversity.
LIVING LEGACY
Sierra Madre is more than a mountain range. It is both a fortress in times of war and disaster, and a living monument of nature that sustains life across Luzon. As the country honors this annual observance, the challenge is not only to remember its historical role but to actively protect it from further harm.
In doing so, we ensure that future generations will inherit not just memories of its strength but the very shield that has defended the Philippines for centuries.