The Forest and Inland Water Division (FIWD) of the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) has reported that 1,200 tons of water lilies were removed during the lakeshore clean-up in Lake Sebu conducted last April 1 that was spearheaded by the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of said LGU.
PEMO-FIWD chief Mary Jane Manlisis disclosed that 20 hectares out of the total 35 hectares of lake area were cleared of water lilies, with the remaining 15 hectares still subject for further clearing.
Manlisis also confirmed that aside from water lilies, illegal structures within the 20-meter lakeshore passageway were also removed or dismantled.
The structures consisted of cottages, fishcages, guardhouses and “padamags” or .
A total of 128 cottages, 561 fish cages, 12 guardhouses and 46 “padamags” were removed by the demolition team or by the owners themselves, Manlisis added.
Forty (40) residents of the municipality were hired as laborers during the clean-up drive.
Governor Daisy Avance Fuentes, together with board members and provincial department heads, conducted a tour on April 1 to personally assess the on-going lakeshore clean-up.
Meanwhile, PEMO also delivered 29,595 planting materials to the community as part of its Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) program under the Lake Sebu Rehabilitation, Conservation and Rehabilitation Program.
The planting materials consisted of rubber, coffee, coconut, sweet guyabano, jackfruit, mangosteen and durian.
Likewise, 4,000 balabago and madre de cacao seedlings were propagated by community growers for lake shore planting.
The selection of beneficiaries, according to PEMO, is still “on process.”
