Convergence eyes Lake Danao as premier ecotourism destination

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
February 7, 2013

ORMOC CITY, Leyte – Lake Danao Natural Park in Ormoc City, in the province of Leyte is projected to soon become a premier ecotourism destination in Eastern Visayas.

The pronouncement was made during the launching of the updated protected are management plan of Lake Danao spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in convergence with fully supportive stakeholders.

DENR-8 Regional Executive Director Manolito Ragub said that the plan envisions Lake Danao Natural Park as “a climate change resilient center of biodiversity and a premier ecotourism destination in region 8, providing clean water and sustainable livelihood, and is managed by empowered stakeholders.”

The Management Plan, RED Ragub said, which was crafted in 2009 was revisited to make it more responsive to current concerns and to include a wider participation of stakeholders in the planning process.

Noting that the previous plan promotes Lake Danao Natural Park as an iconic ecotourism destination in Eastern Visayas, inputs such as the Ecotourism Development Plan and the Lake Danao Site Development were included in the Updated Plan, RED Ragub said.

Among the updates are the current physical and biodiversity data of the park, definition of a management structure and the roles of stakeholders, and definition of a financing mechanism for park sustainability.

Moreover, the Plan ensures that climate change concerns are addressed and management standards and guidelines are set.

The Updated Management Plan has six (6) goals, namely, biodiversity conservation, improved quality of life, eco-tourism promotion, sustainability of the park, informed lake users and waste management.

Ms. Lilian Madjos who represented the Department of Interior and Local Government at the launching program, told the Lake Danao stakeholders, particularly the community residents that the Plan will remain a plan unless it is implemented. She committed the support of DILG to provide capability building and empowerment through training for the immediate stakeholders of the park.

Ormoc City Tourism Officer Ira Montehermoso informed that the local government unit of Ormoc City has an annual budget of 5 million pesos for infrastructure and other activities at Lake Danao Natural Park.

Facilities such as view deck and restrooms are already being completed onsite. She appealed to the village residents to help in the cleanliness and maintenance of these infrastructures.

Barangay Kagawad Eleazar Mistula in behalf of the residents, pledged continued support to protect the park and towards the successful implementation of the Updated Management Plan particularly in its provision of livelihood opportunities for stakeholders of the park.

Also present to pledge their support for the implementation of the Updated Management Plan were representatives of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), Department of Tourism, the Local Government Unit of Ormoc City and its City Environment and Natural Resources Office, the Local Government Unit of Barangay Lake Danao, People’s Organization Lake Danao Farmers Association (LADFA), and some residents of the village.

A Protected Area declared under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) of government, Lake Danao Natural Park is being managed by a multi-sectoral Protected Area Management Board chaired by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

It is managed on-site by a Protected Area Superintendent (PaSu) designated by the DENR Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), Albuera, Leyte.

Lake Danao is a guitar-shaped lake on the island of Leyte, Philippines in the province of Leyte, covering an area of 148 hectares. It is situated in the 2,193 hectares (5,420 acres) Lake Danao National Park, which also includes the Amandiwin mountain range.

The lake is 18 kilometres northeast of Ormoc City, half an hour drive along the San Pablo - Tongonan and Milagro - Lake Danao roads.

It was originally named "Lake Imelda" and was declared a national park on June 2, 1972 by virtue of presidential memorandum issued by then President Ferdinand Marcos. Later it was renamed and declared as Lake Danao National Park on February 3, 1998 through Proclamation No. 1155 and is now protected by Republic Act No. 7586 otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) Act of 1992.

The lake supplies potable water to at least seven towns in Eastern Leyte including Tacloban City as well as the source of irrigation for ricelands in some municipalities like Dagami, Burauen, Pastrana and Tabon-tabon.

At 650 meters (2,130 ft) above sea level, Lake Danao lies on an altitude similar to Tagaytay, making the area cooler than the average Philippine temperature.