The Sampaloc Lake, the largest of the seven lakes in the town of San Pablo, Laguna, will undergo massive rehabilitation to maximize its economic potential, an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.
DENR Region 4A Regional Director Reynulfo Juan said the Urban Greening and Rehabilitation Project of Sampaloc Lake aims to strengthen the rehabilitation and conservation of the lake with the help of the people in the community and owners of business establishments around the lake. Region 4A covers Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.
During the DENR Region 4A’s Earth Day Celebration on April 22 in Laguna, Juan called on residents of San Pablo to be the lake’s environmental champions by initiating and supporting projects that will help restore the lake’s pristine waters for the benefit of the people.
“Let us be heroes within our own homes by telling our children how to care for the environment. Let us be heroes within our own groups of friends by convincing them to exert effort to protect the environment,” Juan said in a message delivered during the Earth Day Celebration.
The rehabilitation of lake is integral part of the Tourism Master Development Plan of the San Pablo City government.
San Pablo City Mayor Loreto Amante supports the rehabilitation of the lake.
Part of the rehabilitation plan is to relocate informal settlers around the lake to a safer location. The local government unit will also implement a zoning plan in all seven lakes in San Pablo, starting with Sampaloc Lake, to limit fish cage operation and fishing from tourist spots within the vicinity of the lake.
The DENR is the main agency of the government which has the mandate to rehabilitate and preserve the country’s natural resources like the Sampaloc Lake.
According to Eleazer Alaira, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer of Laguna, the provincial government is eyeing to green the lake further by planting ornamental and fruit-bearing tree species around the lake to add to its aesthetic beauty.
City, History, Arts, Culture, and Tourism Office Acting Assistant Tourism Officer Ma. Donnalyn Eseo said they are waiting for the approval of the Laguna Lake Development Authority of the proposed Zone Development Plan for Sampaloc Lake, which will regulate fish cage operation, such as limiting the size and location where fish cages can be put up.
She said the provincial government aims to put floating gardens in the lake to serve as protection for fishes in the lake.