The province of Lanao del Sur headed by Governor Mamintal Adiong, Jr., in partnership with the private sector, has called for an integrated and effective management of Lake Lanao.

In a consultation-seminar held recently, the plan was backed by multi-sectoral groups that include Japanese environmentalists who are experts in lake preservation.

Adiong also urged Congress to pass pending bills creating the Lake Lanao Development Authority (LLDA) to save the lake from imminent destruction and make it more beneficial to the people of Lanao del Sur and neighboring areas in Mindanao.

Dr. Masahisa Nakamura, chairman of the International Lake Environment Committee Foundation, Inc., underscored the need for sustained integrative management approaches that were proven effective in the preservation of the 28 great lakes of the world, citing Lake Lanao’s potential inclusion to the list.

Nakamura hinted that Lake Lanao, touted as one of the world’s oldest lakes, could be preserved efficaciously only with efficient government intervention in collaboration with local stakeholders.

Nakamura’s concerns have stimulated a local clamor for the LLDA creation through the passage of enabling bills pending at the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The bills have passed committee-level deliberations at the Senate and the Lower House through the sponsorship of Senator Loren Legarda and Lanao del Sur Rep. Pangalian Balindong, respectively, but the measures have yet to reach plenary discussions, stakeholders said.

“I hope this will be acted soon. Not just as a non sequitur, said Adiong, a strong advocate of environment protection.