TACLOBAN CITY—The strong earthquake that hit Leyte on July 6 badly damaged Lake Danao Natural Park in Ormoc City, an assessment of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional office showed.
A report from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) in Ormoc City disclosed the earthquake caused numerous landslides in Mount Banao and other areas within the protected site, including barangays Lake Danao and Milagro.
“The earthquake damaged forests and disturbed the biodiversity and the natural habitat of wildlife species in the area,” said Maita Reina Sucgang, regional public affairs office chief of DENR.
Lake Danao Natural Park is one of the seven protected areas in Eastern Visayas declared under the National Integrated Protected Area System (Nipas) Act of 1992.
The 6.5-magnitude earthquake on July 6 and the succeeding aftershocks also caused various landslides and damaged concrete roads within the protected area.
The Cenro report also stated that, based on lake shore markings, the water level of Lake Danao receded by 1 meter. Lake Danao is a major water source of the Leyte Metropolitan Water District supplying water to Tacloban and towns of Leyte.
DENR Regional Director Leonardo Sibbaluca said geologists who conducted geo-hazard assessments in the area found cracks on the mountains, which may lead to more landslides if triggered by heavy rainfall and another strong earthquake.
“The after effects of the earthquake that jolted the protected area not only threatens its rich biodiversity, but also put the lives and properties of the residents in the area at risk,” Sibbaluca said.
Over 1,000 families living within the protected areas and nearby villages are at risk of possible landslides. Sibbaluca said the protected area has already been cleared of settlers in the 1980s, but many of them came back later.
Sibbaluca said efforts are being exerted to protect and preserve the unique and fragile ecosystem of Lake Danao Natural Park, which is home to a diverse species of plants and animals. This includes relocating the settlers to lessen the impact of man’s activities on the environment affected by the earthquake.
He said, aside from the danger, the Nipas law also prohibits occupying any land in a protected area except they are qualified tenured migrants or indigenous people.
“It is imperative that we allow our Lake Danao Natural Park protected area to recover from the damages caused by the powerful earthquake,” Sibbaluca said. “Let us enhance its biodiversity, lessen the impacts of human activities and protect it against human exploitation.”