Philippines’ crumbling heritage: an enormous task to sustain

The signs are clear. Whether the effects of global warming, deforestation, urbanization, neglect, lack of alternative sources of income or heavy tourism are to blame, the Ifugao Rice Terraces, dubbed as one of the existing heritage of the country, is rapidly deteriorating right before our eyes.

The awe-inspiring rice terraces carved by the ancestors of the indigenous people living many centuries ago were crumbling. Environmental degradation and the effects brought by the changing climate were also making it hard for farmers and elders to sustain rice farming and other livelihood.

While climate change is already hitting millions of vulnerable people in the country, farmers in Ifugao are being affected, with drought, flooding, hunger and disease becoming more common than ever.

Rice farming traditions are falling out of favor in the region, especially among the young, and the marvelous landscape of the terraces is in danger of becoming a thing of the past.

When asked what problems they encounter in the terraces, the elders pointed to the destruction of the terrace walls, burrowing of giant worms, rodent infestations, inadequate water supply, poor irrigation and lack of care.

“We can’t predict the weather anymore. We have to confront disrupted rice-planting cycles that result in crop failures. We are witnessing the crumbling of earth paddies that have withstood centuries,” said Apo Humiwat, speaking in his Ifugao dialect.

Humiwat said the old ways of farming, where hundreds of farmers in the upland planted their seedlings in mid-November and harvested the crop after about three months, are no longer the norm. Over the last five years, Humiwat said his village has seen crops fail. They don’t know what climate change is about yet, and lamented that “planting rice nowadays is never fun due to poor harvests as a result of sudden changes in weather.”

He said some elders in Ifugao interpret the rapid deterioration of the centuries-old upland-rice farms as a curse. Tribal folk perform rituals to appease their gods through chants and the offering of chickens, pigs and other sacred animals. Farmers implore the gods to help them revive the beauty of the terraces.

Usually during the planting season from July to September, native high priests (mumbaki) and farmers perform their rituals, believing that the gods will protect their crops from devastation.

Instead of tilling the rice fields and maintaining the stone and mud walls by hand for meager returns, young Ifugaos now prefer tourism-related jobs, such as weaving, handicraft, wood carving and guiding tourists, to tending the rice terraces.

“Most of the young Ifugaos have lost their links with the terraces, even disliking the idea of tilling the mountainsides. We can’t blame them, as terrace farming is no longer profitable and practical,” Barangay Captain of Bocos Jose Banggal said.

Earlier this year, the House Committee on Natural Resources approved House Bill 5692 that seeks to restore, protect and safeguard the Ifugao Rice Terraces. Congress has also filed a resolution that at least P122 million is needed for its rehabilitation.

According to the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Cordillera, it has already released this year a total of P20 million to start the restoration of Batad’s stonewalls, irrigation canals, 25 hectares of watershed, farm-to-market roads, livelihood and other related projects.

In 2001 the rice terraces were placed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) List of World Heritage in Danger, citing its continuous deterioration—poor irrigation, migration, weak management system, lack of focus on tourism and uncontrolled developments in the terraces.

In June last year, Unesco said the terraces have been removed from the roster of heritage sites in danger. It cited that the local government units and the community have undertaken efforts to protect, plan and properly manage the terraces. It cited that the rehabilitation of major irrigation systems at the site has been completed.

“But more work needs to be done to ensure sustainability, restore the beauty of the rice terraces, preserve the culture and, at the same time, help the farmers cope with this changing climate,” said Banaue’s Executive Secretary James Damoyan.

Damoyan said in the past years, aside from efforts from the government, several civic organizations and nongovernmental organizations have pledged to provide assistance for the rehabilitation and preservation of the rice terraces.

He said that the DA, for instance, is putting up a seed bank to preserve native heirloom rice varieties such as the tinawon and other upland rice varieties.

Another effort of the local government is the strengthening of he muyong indigenous forest system to restore the terraces. A muyong is a clan-owned forest handed down from one generation to the next through the eldest son to support the rice fields owned by the clan. It is a man-made forest created on the highest part of the mountain to water the terraces found below.

“We need millions of pesos to restore the old beauty of the rice terraces. But time is running out. Still, some of the elders and the people in the communities have remained dedicated to preserving the structure, and we accept whatever assistance that come our way,” Damoyan said.

He said the restoration of the terraces will have to be complemented by other projects designed to enhance the restored terraces, such as proper rice production, educational awareness for the younger generation to value their rich heritage, livelihood activities and upland-farming skills.

For the people living there, sustaining the Ifugao Rice Terraces is critical as their continued existence is a testament to their respect for their ancestors and their priceless heritage.

By IMELDA ABANO.