MANILA, Philippines – Bicolandia’s Lake Buhi is dying.
And it is but a matter of time before this internationally known “pride of the Bicol region” reaches its “ecological doom.”
That is, if nothing is done now – and fast – to save it from the degraded state that it is in today.
Fact is, this 1,707-hectare inland body of water in Buhi, Camarines Sur, which is home to the world’s smallest commercial fish species (sinarapan), is now “highly polluted” and in a “stage of eutrophication.”
Eutrophication is an increase in chemical nitrogen or phosphorus compounds in an ecosystem, often resulting in an increase in its primary productivity (excessive plant growth and decay), in turn leading to lack of oxygen and severe reduction in water quality, fish, and other animal populations.”
The rapid decadence of the lake has been attributed by a research team of the Camarines Sur State Agricultural College (CSSAC) to the following:
• A number of commercial swine raisers operating along Lake Buhi’s shoreline continue to drain their wastes into the lake.
• Lakeside households dump their septic and other domestic wastes into the lake.
• Fish cage operators in the lake overstock their cages, requiring the use of more commercial feeds. About 2,840 tons of feeds are used by almost 15,000 fish cages (covering 70 to 80 percent of the lake surface) per production cycle, quickly becoming a major source of nutrient loading in the lake.
The CSSAC research team – composed of Dr. Cely Binoya, Joyce dela Trinidad, Arthur Estrella, Celerino Llenol, and Gloria Oson – conducted a study titled “Managing and Conserving Lake Buhi: An Agroecosystems Analysis for Sustainable Development.”
The research was funded by the Los Baños-based, government-hosted Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization-Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEAMEO-SEARCA).
Lake Buhi, situated about 500 kilometers southeast of Manila and surrounded by 10 of Buhi’s 38 barangays, yields four to five tons of fish per day.
In their study, the CSSAC researchers interviewed 127 fisherfolk and 110 farmers.
Their laboratory analysis showed that Lake Buhi’s water now has high total suspended solids (TSS), resulting in turbid waters, shallow depths, low pH (acidic), and high chemical oxygen demand (COD) owing to high organic matter.”
“Ammoniacal oxygen, nitrate nitrogen, and phosphates were at toxic level,” they added.
“These results,” they averred, “indicate that Lake Buhi is now in the stage of eutrophication. Similarly, the presence of three polluted water algae and three odor algae confirms that Lake Buhi is now highly polluted. In essence, Lake Buhi’s ecological quality has deteriorated.”
Recognizing the lake’s sad state, the local government unit and communities around it have been training lakeside dwellers on environmental appreciation and awareness and legislating appropriate ordinances.
Along these lines, the SEARCA-supported research team conducted training needs assessment; information, education, communication (IEC) activities; focus group discussions; SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunities, threats) analysis; and environment awareness and advocacy and livelihood training courses.
The Sinarapan Sanctuary Management and Development Council was also organized to help develop policies and implement community-wide programs that would ensure the sustainable population of sinarapan.
Relevant ordinances and resolutions have also been passed for more efficient implementation of projects for Lake Buhi’s sustainable development.