Muddy floods blamed on Makiling deforestation

A concerned resident of Barangay Pansol, Calamba, Laguna shared footage of muddy floodwaters rushing through neighborhood streets on social media, blaming recent deforestation on Mount Makiling for the worsening conditions.

Dan Julius Serrano, in his 12 July Facebook reel, claimed the flooding only began after parts of the nearby natural landmark were stripped of trees. “Take note, hindi po lubak daan d’yan. Naka-semento po lahat. Nakikita niyo, galing bundok ’yan na kinalbo,” Serrano wrote.

Serrano said Calamba Mayor Roseller “Ross” Rizal visited the area on Sunday and reportedly told residents that operations on the mountain would be temporarily stopped.

DAILY TRIBUNE has reached out to Rizal’s office for comment and is awaiting a response.

Additional footage provided by Serrano shows a section of Mt. Makiling stripped of greenery, with visible tracks from heavy equipment. Locals claim that ongoing quarrying operations are behind the deforestation and subsequent flooding.

Mt. Makiling was declared the Philippines’ first national park in 1933 and was later designated an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2013 for its biodiversity. Environmentalists have long warned that deforestation on such mountains increases the risk of flooding and landslides during storms.