Mt. Malipunyo quarrying worsens Batangas floods

Residents and environmental advocates are raising the alarm over the worsening state of Mt. Malipunyo — a once-lush mountain range that straddles Batangas, Laguna, and Quezon — pointing out that years of quarrying have left it scarred and vulnerable, and have made flooding in Batangas towns far worse.

The degradation is visible and has caught the attention of golfers enjoying a round at the Summit Point Golf and Country Club in Lipa City.

For generations, Mt. Malipunyo was like a giant natural sponge, absorbing rainwater and slowing its flow into nearby rivers and lowlands. But that natural shield is now badly damaged.

Satellite images and photos show huge patches of bare earth where thick forest used to stand, cleared to make way for heavy machinery digging out gravel, sand, and other construction materials.

The problem is simple but devastating: with the trees gone, rainwater no longer soaks into the ground. Instead, it rushes down the mountain, carrying soil and debris into the rivers—and straight into towns like Sto. Tomas and Tanauan, and Lipa City.

“We used to see knee-deep floods only during big typhoons,” said a long-time Sto. Tomas resident. “Now, even just a few hours of moderate rain is enough to send water rushing into our streets.”

How floods got worse

Mt. Malipunyo is part of an important watershed that feeds into rivers such as the Calumpang and Pansipit. But with less forest cover, more rainwater—and more silt—ends up in these waterways. That silt builds up, reducing the rivers’ capacity to carry water, causing them to overflow faster during storms.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) data showed that multiple quarrying permits had been issued in the past decade. The companies argued the materials were vital for infrastructure projects. But environmentalists said the long-term damage—from biodiversity loss to millions of pesos in flood damage—outweighed any short-term benefits.

A DAILY TRIBUNE check with the DENR showed the Batangas provincial government granted a quarrying permit to Makiling Construction Ventures Corp. in November 2022.

A DENR field investigation on 1 August confirmed that the project is operating under that permit.

In a letter dated 8 August, the DENR-MGB Region IV encouraged local government units to coordinate and support local monitoring efforts to ensure environmental safety, ordinance compliance, and continued community engagement.

What needs to be done

Calls are growing to suspend quarrying on Mt. Malipunyo and to strictly enforce environmental laws. Local governments are working with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on dredging rivers and upgrading drainage, but experts warn these measures won’t be enough on their own.

“If we don’t restore the watershed, the floods will only get worse,” said a civil engineer involved in Batangas’ flood control projects. “You can build the biggest drainage systems you want, but if water is barreling down from a bare mountain, you’re fighting a losing battle.”

For shop owners, farmers, and families in the flood zones, the cause of their misery is clear.