Safeguarding Lakes, Securing Communities: MMBMP Season 4 Visayas Leg Tackles Sustainable Lake Management
Lakes across the Philippines continue to serve as lifelines, supplying water, supporting livelihoods, and sheltering wildlife. From the famed Seven Lakes of San Pablo in Laguna to Ormoc’s forest-fringed Lake Danao and Negros Oriental’s protected Balinsasayao Twin Lakes, these inland waters sustain both ecosystems and local economies. But their health depends on responsible stewardship and science-based management to ensure they remain productive for generations to come.
To recognize their environmental and economic value, the Department of Science and Technology–National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP) brought its sustainable community research programs to the Negros Island Region (NIR) through the Visayas leg of May Magandang Bukas Mula sa Pagtuklas (MMBMP), Season 4. The event, titled “Bantay Lawa: Ang Agos ng Agham para sa Pamayanan,” was held on August 5, 2025 at Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) Main Campus II.
Three NRCP researchers presented findings from research programs on lake sustainability, followed by a forum that linked these results with community perspectives and practices.
Research findings from Luzon and Eastern Visayas reveal pressures on Philippine lakes
Assistant Professor John Vincent R. Pleto, a regular member of NRCP Division of Biological Sciences, presented findings from Seven Lakes Assessment and Monitoring Program (7LAMPS). His study on the “Recreational and Aquaculture Carrying Capacity of the Seven Lakes of San Pablo, Laguna” found that lakes Sampaloc, Palakpakin, and Bunot have exceededsustainable fish cage limits, leading to nutrient build-up and algal bloom risks. While aquaculture supports livelihoods, uneaten fish feed and waste were identified as key pollutants. Meanwhile, San Pablo’s twin lakes – Pandin and Yambo – remain well-preserved and popular with tourists.
Dr. Vachel Gay V. Paller, also a regular member of NRCP Division of Biological Sciences, presented another project under 7LAMPS titled “Emerging Waterborne Parasites in Surface Waters of the Seven Lakes of San Pablo, Laguna.” The results of her study showed contamination in 60% of water samples from the Seven Lakes, with pathogens such as Cryptosporidium and Blastocystis traced to human and animal waste. Paller stressed that protecting lake ecosystems requires a holistic or systems-based approach that safeguards both public health and biodiversity.
In Eastern Visayas, Dr. Rolly G. Fuentes, a regular member of NRCP Division of Chemical Sciences, shared research from the Lake Assessments for Key Ecosystem Services (LAKES) Danao Program. While Lake Danao remains a critical source of drinking water, irrigation, and flood control, the study found rising phosphate levels linked to agricultural runoff and household waste. Without intervention, he said that lake faces risks of algal blooms and oxygen depletion.
Recommendations and community response
Researchers called for tailored measures including stricter fish cage regulations, visitors management, improved sanitation, waste disposal enforcement, buffer zone protection, and parasite testing in routine monitoring. For Lake Danao, Fuentes recommended responsible fertilizer use, community clean-up drives, and wastewater treatment facilities.
Although Negros Oriental’s Balinsasayao Twin Lakes remain protected and Lake Balanan faces fewer pressures, local stakeholders, including Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Farmers’ Association, the Negros Oriental Provincial Tourism Council, the Environment and Natural Resources Division, and the Central Visayas Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (CVAARRDEC), participated in discussions to explore sustainable management strategies for their own inland waters.
During the open forum, faculty and students from state universities and colleges (SUCs) such as NORSU, Siquijor State College, Bohol Island State University, and the Asian College of Science and Technology raised questions on lake protection priorities and strategies most applicable to Negros Oriental.
Establishing partnerships
On August 4, a day before the event, DOST–NRCP signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with NORSU to strengthen collaboration in science communication and the local application of research findings.
MMBMP is part of DOST-NRCP’s Research Information Translation and Communication (RITAC) Program, which bridges the gap between research and its on-the-ground application. By making technical findings accessible, the program equips communities, local governments, and industries with evidence-based guidance to make informed decisions for sustainable resource management. DOST-NRCP and NORSU officials said these efforts help ensure that the country’s lakes continue to provide vital services while remaining resilient for future generations. (Rose Dagupen, S&T Media Services)
