Siargao’s Sugba Lagoon takes a break from tourists

SIARGAO GEM Siargao Island is not only known for its world-class surfing spots but for its pristine Sugba lagoon, a tourist drawer in Del Carmen town, Surigao del Norte province. —ERWIN MASCARIÑAS

BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, Philippines — Found within 4,871 hectares of mangrove forest, Sugba Lagoon is one of Siargao Island’s most popular destinations.

The lagoon,  is a natural cove on the island village of Caub in Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte, known for its clear turquoise waters surrounded by limestone formations and lush vegetation.

But beginning Jan. 10, the lagoon will be closed to tourists for a month to allow it to heal, according to local officials.

“It’s time for the lagoon to breathe, to heal, for one month every year. We allow nature to recover by itself,” said Del Carmen Vice Mayor Alfredo Matugas Coro II.

‘Vacation leave’

“It’s more like a vacation leave, a time for the waters and its flora and fauna to heal as the lagoon is different compared to a beach, as it does not have a direct flow of water coming from the open sea,” Coro added.

This annual closure began in 2016 when Coro, then mayor of Del Carmen, started rehabilitating the lagoon which suffered from the impact of unregulated tourism.

Leilani Lipio, municipal tourism officer, said people could visit other sites in the town while the lagoon is off-limits. Among these alternative destinations are the white sand beaches of Cawhagan and Pamomoan.

The lagoon, according to the local government, brought in more than P7 million in revenue in 2017, with about 1,000 families earning from tourism-related activities.

Growth

Between 300 and 500 people visit the lagoon daily, with the number peaking to at least 1,000 during the summer and Holy Week.

“We had to regulate boat operations and limit the stay of each boatload of tourists in the lagoon to just three hours to allow others to experience the area,” Lipio said.

At least 125 boats ferry guests to Sugba lagoon. All of these are licensed and accredited by the local government.