NAGA CITY, April 22 (PIA) --- Pursuant to Republic Act 9275 otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 in relation to the designation of Lake Buhi Watershed (LBW) Water Quality Management Area (WAQMA) and the Creation of Governing Board (GB) , a 10 –year Action Plan was formally approved by LBW-WQMA GB Members last Friday, to oversee its operations.
Resolution No.2 series of 2015 which is specifically divided in short, medium and long term blueprints, endeavors to protect and continuously improve the water quality of Lake Buhi and make it as a sustaining resource to all the people of the town, particularly to the upcoming generation.
The schemes and strategies stipulated in the 10-year plan of action is also in consonance with DENR Administrative Order No. 2005-10 or its implementing rules and regulations and DENR Department Administrative Order 2013-16 or the designation of the LBW-WAQMA, which includes among others, the creation of its governing board.
One of the significant moves that the board intends to achieve is to limit and monitor aquaculture activities within the lake in accordance to RA 8550 or the act providing for the development, management and conservation of the fisheries and aquatic resources. This is in response to the proliferation of fish cages, fish pens and fish corals in the said sanctuary.
In order to achieve this objective, the group will conduct an annual validation of inventory of fish cages, fish pens and fish corrals every December. The board will counter any defiance from hard headed violators by implementing dismantling operations of these cages to achieve their set objective. In order not to disrupt the source of income of the displaced fish cage workers, an alternative livelihood project for them will be provided.
Also to resolve the continued encroachment in the lake easement, including the congestion of lake shores in the Poblacion barangays, the board will re-establish the original boundary of the lake based on the land classification or Cadastral map. They will strictly enforce rules on this to ensure that no further encroachment will take place within the lake area.
Aside from the abovementioned issues, the group also identified the large volume of silt in Lake Buhi and discharge channel as one of the primordial concerns that needs to be addressed.
In response, Resolution No.5 series of 2015 requesting the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to undertake the desiltation of Lake Buhi, including the Tabao River was set into motion and was approved by the members of the governing board.
The resolution further states that the “horrendous effects of the accumulation of silt as a result of the destruction of Tabao River to the water quality of the lake, to its biodiversity, aquaculture industry and imminent extinction of Buhi’s pride – the Sinarapan dubbed as the world’s smallest fish , are unspeakable.
The 10-year plan intends to keep Lake Buhi as a sustainable sanctuary for all forms of aqua life and serve as a living testimony that the human race is still capable of preserving God’s creation. (LSMacatangay, PIAV/Camarines Sur)