IWMC sets 7th 'Piyesta sa Kakahuyan' on September 30 in Dingle
The Iloilo Watershed Management Council (IWMC) has set this year's tree planting activity of the province of Iloilo dubbed as, "Piyesta Sa Kakahuyan" on September 30, 2006 at Bulabog - Putian National Park in Brgy. Moroboro, Dingle.
This annual activity is held every September in the province of Iloilo by virtue of Provincial Ordinance No. 2000 - 040. It aims primarily to remind Ilonggos of the value of a properly managed environment. This year, it carries the theme, "Trees for Fresher and Greener Environment".
For the past seven years, participants to this activity coming from the provincial government, national government agencies, academe, local government units, non-government organizations and private sectors gathered in the chosen watershed areas of the province.
This year, the IWMC has chosen Bulabog - Putian National Park in the municipality of Dingle as the site of this activity.
The Bulabog Mountains occupies an area of 834.033 hectares covering parts of the 5 barangays of Dingle identified as Barangays Moroboro, Lincud, Camambugan, Caguyuman and Tulatula-an.
As an old growth forest it is an excellent laboratory for the study of flora and fauna. All along its fringes are live springs like the Moroboro spring now developed into an auxilliary source of the Pototan - Dingle Waterworks and the Talinab Spring (San Enrique town side) now developed into a major source of Passi Waterworks and Bito Lake.
It is also the only limestone rock formation in the island of Panay, not counting Guimaras Island. Two lime factories operate in the mountains to serve the agricultural needs of the neighboring municipalities.
Known to the people in the municipality as the splunkers paradise, Bulabog - Putian is also famous for its forest caves. One of these caves is the "Lungib" which served as the armory of the "Cry of Lincud" otherwise known as the Battle Cry of Panay. Phosphate rock deposits are also found in these various caves of the mountains.
The declaration of Bulabog - Putian and part of its surrounding barangays as eco-tourism area through Congressional Bill No. 1651 is now at the Senate for subsequent study and pending for its final approval into law.
The Bulabog - Putian Mountains is visited by an average of 8,000 people per year.
(PIA)