Mabini lake eyed as water source, tourist attraction

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has approved a resolution urging both the Cebu City Agriculture Department (CAD) and the Cebu City Tourism Office to study the feasibility of developing Manyaptap Lake in Barangay Mabini as source for agricultural water and as a tourism site.

The resolution was approved following a privilege speech of Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover, chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Wednesday last week.

Alcover said that it was two weeks ago when he was able to visit Sitio Manyaptap, Barangay Mabini, Cebu City and saw the potentials of the place to be tapped as source for irrigation as well as tourism destination.

According to him, it was the first time that he learned of the existence of the lake in the place.

“Matud pa ni Kapitan Richard Adolfo, dugay na kining maong lawa diha. Ang tinubdan niini kay tubod. Tuod gani, gihimo kining taguanan sa mga hapon panahon sa ikaduhang gubat sa kalibutan,” said Alcover.

The lake is estimated to be a kilometer wide and has never run out of water ever since despite the El Niño. Alcover said the lake should have been tapped long time ago by the city agriculture department to supply water for the farmers during drought.

“Pila na ka administrasyon sa nasyonal ug local na pangagamnahan ang nakalabay, apan wala kini ma-explore aron makatabang sa panginahanglanon sa tubig ning dakbayan,” said Alcover.

According to him, the said lake may have the potential to become a water source to help the water demands of the farmers in the upland barangays.

“Also, this could be a potential tourism spot with historical value as it is claimed to have some World War Two roles on the Japanese Occupation of Cebu City,” he added.

Alcover then moved that the CAD and the city’s tourism office would make a feasibility study to tap the lake for water source and tourism, respectively.  

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, majority floor leader and chairperson of the committee on tourism, raised a corollary motion requesting the tourism office to immediate inspect the area. (CEBU NEWS)