Lake Danao, San Francisco, central, Philippines: Its status and government initiatives for its conservation and sustainability

Abstract

Lake Danao, a 649-hectare lake in Pacijan Island, was studied to find out its status in terms of activities of the inhabitants and government initiatives to conserve the lake, being the source of livelihood and a tourist destination in the Island Group of Camotes. Interview guide and actual field visits were used to gather data. Results show that fishing using gill nets and fish pots topped the activities of the inhabitants in Lake Danao, followed by 'suli-suli' gathering for mat weaving and other novelties, ecotourism, aquaculture, and nipa shingles making. Government initiatives in conserving and sustaining the lake include the legislative support declaring Lake Danao as flora and fauna sanctuary, requiring the barangay chairmen of six lakeshore barangays to implement activities for lake protection, declaring September 18 of every year as Municipal Clean Up Day in the marine and lake waters of San Francisco, prohibiting slash and burn farming on the lakeshore, prohibiting the cutting of mangroves and other tropical trees in the lake, banning birdhunting around the lake, suli-suli plant cutters/weavers to secure mayor s permit, prohibiting the use of motorized vessels in the lake, prohibiting carabao bathing and washing of clothes along the lakeshore, prohibiting construction of dwellings and other structures within 20 meters from the lakeshore, adopting and implementing Articles 51 and 52 of Republic Act 1067, prohibiting solid waste and garbage dumping in the lake, and collecting entrance fees from Lake Danao visitors and the creation of SAN FRANCISCO LAKEWATCH. Aquaculture activities in the lake is only granted to agencies like the BFAR, LGUs, and other agencies in order to control the proliferation of cages and maintain the carrying capacity of the lake. The BFAR-7 was quarterly restocking the lake with tilapia fingerlings and controlling the standard size of gill nets to be used in fishing. Academic institutions like the Cebu Technological University and BFAR-Region 7 conducted limnological researches on the lake to monitor the lake s health and sustainability.