Loon, PENRO inks MOA for Cabilao Island management, protection
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Provincial Environment Natural Resources Office (PENRO)with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of the Municipality of Loon, Bohol conducted the two-day activity Cabilao Island Lake Consultation Meeting and Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing at the Loon Activity Center, Loon Municipal Hall Compound, Cogon Norte, Loon, Bohol on September 16-17, 2020.
Loon Mayor Elvi Peter L. Relampagos welcomed the DENR-PENRO Bohol officials and personnel led by PENRO Bohol head Charlie E. Fabre, Ph.D, who was accompanied by Forester Basilides D. Orioque, Forester Marcial Ugay and protected area (PA) staff Rozalme C. Caba, Kemberly P. Bañados and Christy Rina T. Tare.
Present during the activity and also MOA signatories were Cabilao Island’s five Punong Barangays namely Rose Mary L. Caro – Pantudlan, Ruel L. Lecias – Cabacongan, Jose Rino R. Masalta – Talisay, Marilyn L. Autentico – Cambaquiz and Andresa C. Sordilla – Looc.
Also present were Loon Municipal Planning and Development Council head Engr. Allan Relator, Coastal Law Enforcement Council 2 (CLEC 2) Coordinator Dioscoro P. Masalta, community organizer Julieta C. Cavero and Loon Tourism Office representative Maria Luz Casinillo.
The Cabilao Island Lake is within the Cabilao-Sandingan Islands Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve (CSIMSFR) covering the barangays of Pantudlan, Cabacongan, Cambaquiz, Talisay and Looc under the management of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB).
Also known as Lake Danao or Lanao, it is a permanent saline/brackish/alkaline marshes inland type of wetland and is home to more bird species than any other place in the province of Bohol.
The flora of the Cabilao Island Lake include the kulasi (Lumnitzeraracemosa), pototanlalaki (Brugieracylindrica), bungalon (Avicennia marina), buta-buta (Excoecariaagallocha) and nipa (Nypafruticans).
Among the lake’s fauna are the refocus night heron (Nycticoraxcaledonicus), black crowned-night heron (Nyticoraxnycticorax), little egret (Egrettagarzetta), great egret (Ardea alba), purple heron (Ardeapurpurea), wandering whistling duck (Dendrocygnaarcuata), little grebe (Tachybaptusruficollis), little heron (Butoridesstriata), whiskered tern (Chlidoniashybrida), common sandpiper (Actitishypoleucos), black-napedtern (Sterna sumatrana), barred rail (Gallirallustorquatus), rudycrake (Laterallusruber), and cinnamon bittern (Ixobrychuscinnamomeus).
It is in the swamp area is where the birds frequently feed, while the mangrove areas provide physical protection to the lake, as well as a resting area for all types of birds and other wildlife species.
The signing of the MOA by the concerned stakeholders led by DENR-PENRO Bohol, LGU-Loon and Cabilao’s barangay local government units (BLGUs) provides assurance for the development, protection, conservation and maintenance of the Cabilao Island Lake as an eco-tourism zone that provides a safe haven for all wildlife species within its territorial jurisdiction.