Batangas to rehabilitate Taal Volcano protected landscape

Batangas to rehabilitate Taal Volcano protected landscape
Batangas City (31 October) -- What comes to mind when one hears of Batangas? Among others, the wieldy balisong (fan knife), the rich aroma and strong taste of kapeng barako, the delicious sinaing na tulingan, and that small yet deadly Taal Volcano and the deceptively tranquil lake that surrounds it. Southern Luzon's centerpiece of attraction.

One of 21 active volcanoes in the country located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, and identified by the UN as one of the world's sixteen Decade Volcanoes, Taal has seen at least 33 historical eruptions from 1572 to 1977. Although it has since been dormant, the volcano has shown signs of unrest such as earthquakes, ground fractures and mud geysers since 1991.

Unmindful of the potential danger, people have constantly flocked nevertheless to nearby Tagaytay City in Cavite, which, aside from its cool climate, is known for its strategic lookout points of Taal Volcano and Lake. In fact, the country's rich and famous consider it "ordinary" to shell out millions of pesos to own a resthouse with a panoramic view of Taal's 47 overlapping cones and craters and 1.9-km crater lake.

Threats to Taal

This tourist magnet has unfortunately been beset by environmental threats, mostly manmade. A decline in fish production due to overfishing seemed at first to be addressed with the entry of fish cages in the early 80s. Yet the uncontrolled proliferation of fish cages and wrong aquaculture practices like high stocking density and overfeeding - with up to 40% of the feeds left uneaten - have contributed greatly to the deterioration of lake water quality. Further, sewage discharge, sand quarrying and erosion from real estate development in surrounding areas have contributed to water pollution. This has led to fish kills and the decline in the lake's biodiversity, including the endemic tawilis, the world's only freshwater sardine.

Sadly too, those capitalizing on the unregulated influx of tourists who have come to bathe in the lake's water, coast along it in rickety outriggers, or gaze on the volcano's dangerous allure seem to have added to its woes. In fact, earlier this year, the Taal Volcano Island was at the center of an environmental controversy due to improvements made in what has been classified as a permanent danger zone by the PHIVOLCS.

Recognizing the immediate need to bring to fore the uniqueness of this natural wonder's volcano within the lake and the lake within the volcano and prevent its further deterioration, the Provincial Government of Batangas has decided to take the lead in encouraging its constituents and other stakeholders to take action.

Initiatives to rehabilitate Taal

On November 9, a massive tree planting will be held along the shores of Taal Lake and on Volcano Island itself. Initiated by the young Vice-Governor Jose Antonio "Mark" Leviste III, a known environmental advocate, in partnership with the DENR, the activity introduces provincial initiatives to rehabilitate the CALABARZON Region's largest protected area and the country's third largest lake, and further boost environmental awareness and eco-tourism in the area.

The activity will involve members of TVPL's Protected Area Management Board, students, residents of lakeshore communities, and other stakeholders. Invited VIPs will hold a ceremonial tree planting at the Volcano Island, to be followed by simultaneous planting of appropriate tree species in the surrounding 13 municipalities and 2 cities in Batangas.

In 1996, the Taal Volcano Island National Park was declared as the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape through Presidential Proclamation No. 906. From an original area of 2,475 hectares consisting of three municipalities in 1987, the protected area now encompasses 65,292.1369 hectares consisting of Taal Volcano Island and the areas surrounding the lake. These include part of Tagaytay City, Lipa City and Tanauan City, and the municipalities of Talisay, Malvar, Laurel, Agoncillo, Sta. Teresita, Cuenca, Alitagtag, Mataas na Kahoy, Balete, San Nicolas, Taal and Lemery. The lake used to be an arm of Balayan Bay, but centuries of eruptions and precipitation converted it to the present freshwater lake connected to the Bay solely through the Pansipit River. (PIA-MMIO)