Sibulan Mayor Antonio Renacia yesterday expressed his  intention  to  enter  into  a  Memorandum  of  Agreement  with  the  Protected  Area  Management  Board to  co-manage natural  park Lake Balinsasayao.

 Renacia said he is worried about reports of rampant illegal logging in the forest area around the lake, as evidenced by the arrest of Isidro Sotillo in a recent joint operation by the Philippine National Police and Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Under  the  management  of  the PAMB,  the  local  government  unit  seemed to have lost  its power  to manage  and  claim the  lake as  part of  Sibulan, he added.

The Sangguniang Bayan of Sibulan passed an ordinance providing security for the lake, but it was disapproved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, citing that the lake is under PAMB.

Renacia said despite the alarming illegal logging in the lake, the local government has limited functions.  There must be joint management with the PAMB considering that the lake is one of the sources of groundwater supply in Sibulan and its neighboring towns.*MA

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