Senator Erwin Tulfo on Tuesday renewed calls for stricter environmental protections for the Sierra Madre mountain range, describing the natural barrier as a “mother” that shields millions of Filipinos from the devastation of typhoons.

In his privilege speech at the Senate plenary, Tulfo highlighted the critical role the longest mountain range in the Philippines played during the recent Super Typhoon Uwan, which battered Luzon over the weekend.

“Just last Saturday and Sunday, when Super Typhoon Uwan hit Luzon, we once again witnessed the resilience of the Sierra Madre. She was the one who stopped the storm, held back the fury of the wind, and saved millions of lives in Luzon,” Tulfo said.

“She quietly fulfilled her duty as our savior once again – like a mother who hid her children from the deadly lash of the storm,” he added.

Stretching over 540 kilometers from Cagayan in the north to Quezon in the south, the Sierra Madre has long acted as a natural shield against typhoons coming from the Pacific Ocean.

Tulfo cited its historical role in mitigating damage from previous storms such as Typhoon Yolanda, Rolly, and Paeng.

However, the senator warned that human activity threatens the mountain range’s protective capacity.

“Mining operations continue to carve scars upon its slopes. Illegal logging and quarrying erode its soil. Infrastructure and resort developments threaten to fragment its forests,” he said.

Tulfo emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of existing laws, including Republic Act No. 9125, or the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park Act of 2001.

“I call for the immediate review and approval of the implementation of protection for the Sierra Madre. Stricter bans are needed on any harmful mining, logging, and construction of all types of resorts, whether for vacation or permanent residence, along with providing nature-based livelihoods to indigenous and local communities who are the true guardians of nature,” he said.

Tulfo concluded: “If the Sierra Madre is willing to sacrifice itself for our salvation, isn't it time for us to save it in return?”