The national government has finally committed to help rehabilitate the Lanao Lake after decades of environmental degradation.
Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said a joint undertaking between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the provincial government is in place to push for sustainable implementation of an Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management Program (Inremp) in Lake Lanao.
Lanao del Sur Gov. Hadja Soraya Alonto-Adiong said she had signed the Inremp memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Sept. 21 in Quezon City, with regional environment director Ruth Tawantawan.
According to the MOA, the program is aimed at establishing “effective management of the Lanao Lake River Basin, as well as watershed rehabilitation and conservation, and reduction or reversal of environmental degradation in the river basin.”
Both parties in the MOA foresee “increased revenues from watershed management and livelihood investments, leading to a sustainable socio-economic and ecotourism development in Mindanao.”
Alonto-Adiong said the program “will change the lives of the Maranaos,” adding that the term “M’ranao” was derived from the word “Ranao,” meaning “lake.
Maranaos are notably identified as the “People of the Lake.”
“I’m glad that after 12 years of advocacy, coordination and discussions on the development of Lake Lanao since the time of my late husband, Congressman Mamintal Adiong Sr., this change is finally coming to the lives of the Maranaos,” the governor said.
Secretary Datu Abul Khayr Alonto, of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), said it was time to preserve and protect Lake Lanao.
But the governor promptly pointed out that the Maranaos are not claiming exclusive rights over Lake Lanao, saying it has served many Filipinos as well as this lake is the source of water that propels the turbines of the six hydroelectric plants operating through the Agus River trough.
Geographically, Lake Lanao largely covers territories and water borders of areas within the ARMM, particularly the municipal boundaries of Lanao del Sur province and parts of Northern Mindanao and Eastern Mindanao.