Western Visayas caves get protection

Western Visayas caves get protection from DENR

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources have taken steps to protect caves in Western Visayas from further vandalism and illegal excavations that have all but destroyed the natural formations.

Damaso Fuentes, chief of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Division of the DENR in Western Visayas, said many of the caves in the region have been vandalized and damaged by illegal excavations of tourists and treasure hunters.

The regional DENR has also seen the need to stop the illegal collection of wildlife in the caves, particularly bats on Boracay Island.

Fuentes said the need to move was urgent, calling on nongovernment organizations and local governments to help.

There are about 1,500 caves in the country, 38 percent of which are in Luzon, 37 percent in Mindanao and 22 percent in Negros and Panay Islands in the Visayas, according to Fuentes.

The DENR in Western Visayas assessed and classified 20 caves last year as part of its efforts to protect these caves, according to Arlene Dalawis, regional technical director of the Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Service.

The DENR, with the Western Visayas Caving Association, the National Museum of the Philippines and local government units, classified the 20 caves according to standards set by Republic Act 9072, or the National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act.

Four of the 20 caves belong to Class 1, which have fragile geological formations and with threatened species. Activities in these caves are limited to mapping, photography, education and scientific purposes.

These include the Butak, Taluto and Mugni Caves in Barangay Caguyuman in Dingle town, Iloilo and the Darkside of Paradise Cave in Barangay Balabag on Boracay Island in Aklan.

Nine caves were categorized as Class II. These caves are hazardous and contain sensitive geological, archaeological, cultural, historical and biological values. Some portions of these caves are closed to public access and are only open to experienced spelunkers, or guided education tours or visits.

The caves under this category include the Guiso Cave in Barangay Moroboro and the Lapus-Lapus, Tayon-Tayon and Maanghit caves in Barangay Caguyuman, all in Dingle town, Iloilo.

source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net