A visitor is awed by the beauty of the Luyang Cave in Catanduanes.
By FLOREÑO SOLMIRANO
LEGAZPI CITY: Eight caves in the Bicol Region are in the country’s list
of 158 caves that the Department of Environment has classified for protection,
conservation, and management, according to DENR Bicol Regional Executive
Director Gilbert C Gonzales.
Gonzales said six of these caves are categorized as Class 3, that is,
generally safe to inexperienced visitors and have no known threatened species
andarcheological, geological, natural history, cultural, and historical values.
The caves are the Luyang Cave in Barangay Lictin, San Andres,
Catanduanes; Versales Cave, Barangay Linao, Placer, Masbate; Lingaw Cave, Barangay
Linao, Libon, Albay; San Ramon Cave, Barangay San Ramon, Libon, Albay; Rawis
Cave, Barangay Rawis, Libon, Albay; and Pighulugan Cave,
Barangay Misibis, Bacacay, Albay.
These caves may also be utilized for economic purposes such as guano
extraction and edible birds and collection, he said.
Two caves are classified under Class 2, or those with areas or portions
which have hazardous conditions and contain sensitive geological,
archeological, cultural, historical, and biological values or high quality ecosystem,
Gonzales added.
Open to experienced cavers or guided educational tours/visits, these
caves are: the Mataas Cave, Barangay Mataas, Bacacay, Albay, and the
Calabidongan Cave, Barangay Calabidongan, Camalig, Albay.
“It may be necessary to close sections
of these caves seasonally or permanently,” Gonzales said.
He claimed that he found this cave classification useful in
rationalizing any plans to use them for economic purposes.
He said DENR Secretary Ramon Paje has signed a memorandum circular that
provides for continuous classification of caves in the country until all of
them have been classified.
“This has the end view of
protecting our caves, including their natural, historical, and cultural
attributes,” Gonzales said. – Bicol Mail
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