A hidden cave has been discovered in Barangay Dansolihon, Cagayan de Oro City.
The cave was accidentally found during an ongoing road widening project related to the new bridge construction in Santa Cruz area of the barangay.
The cave’s entrance was exposed when the hill was cut and the top soil removed during the widening.
CLENRO Guidelines
The City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO) under Engr. Armen Aviola Cuenca has issued guidelines and information on preserving a newly discovered cave in Brgy. Dansolihon per our request, in line with national laws aimed at protecting natural resources, and entry into the cave is currently prohibited.
According to data released by CLENRO, there are many caves located within the city. The office emphasized the importance of following legal regulations to ensure the conservation of these natural habitats.
Under Republic Act 9147, known as “An Act Providing for the Conservation and Protection of Wildlife Resources and their Habitats,” caves are recognized as wildlife habitats and are protected by law.
Furthermore, Republic Act 9072 of 2001 (“National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act) declares that caves and their natural resources are protected by law.
According to Section 6 of RA 9072, the location of newly discovered caves must not be disclosed for one year from the time of discovery by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), until they are classified for tourism, study, or other purposes.
According to the DENR Region 10 office, cave management falls under the jurisdiction of the Conservation and Development Division of the regional office, and it a direct office concern of CENRO Initao, Misamis Oriental.
DENR officials have confirmed they are now coordinating with the CLENRO and CENRO to verify and request Barangay Dansolihon LGU not to allow further entry to the new found cave.
According to the current Cave Management Protocol of DENR, such caves cannot be allowed to remain open to the public until after a Cave Assessment has been undertaken and completed by DENR.
Section 7 outlines prohibited activities, such as extracting, acquiring, or selling items from within the cave, or hiring individuals to do so.
Section 7. Prohibited Acts – The following shall be considered Prohibited Acts.
(a) Knowingly destroying, disturbing, defacing, marring, altering, removing, or harming the speleogem or speleothem of any cave or altering the free movement of any animal or plant life into or out of any cave:
(b) Gathering, collecting, possessing, consuming, selling, bartering or exchanging or offering for sale without authority any, cave resource; and
(c) Counselling, procuring, soliciting or employing any other person to violate any provisions of this Section.
As outlined in Section 8 of RA 9072, violators will be penalized with imprisonment for two to six years or fines ranging from P20,000 to P500,000, or both, depending on the court’s decision.
Those who instigate damage or extraction from caves face imprisonment for six years and one day to eight years, or fines ranging from P500,000 to P1,000,000, or both, based on the court’s decision.
For now, CLENRO warns further entry into the newly discovered cave in Barangay Dansolihon is hereby STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
For further inquiries, visit CLENRO or the CENRO Initao office.
