The Lands Geological Survey Division (LGSD) of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) presented the results of the Karst Subsidence Hazard Assessment in Bohol during the 20th National Cave Committee (NCC) Meeting and 16th National Cave Congress held at Sagada, Mountain Province on April 12-16, 2016. The presentation, made by Ms. Liza Socorro J. Manzano, Supervising Science Research Specialist, served as MGB's input to the Cave Management Guidebook and Cave Safety and Protocol being prepared by the NCC, spearheaded by the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB).
The 20th NCC Meeting was participated by various national government agencies, civil society organizations, academe and local government units including the following: Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), DENR-Cordillera Administrative Region, League of Cities / Municipalities of the Philippines, University of the Philippines Diliman – National Institute of Geological Sciences and Gaia Exploration Club. The meeting agenda included the evaluation of the draft cave management guidebook, draft safeguard in cave eco-tourism, cave safety and rescue protocol and cave classification.
The 16th National Cave Congress with a theme: "Kweba, Kultura, Kalikasan," was a joint undertaking of the Philippine Speleological Society, Inc., Local Government of Sagada, Department of Tourism and DENR. This year's congress highlighted caves as an important cultural space, signifying and inseparable to the people's way of life. The participants composed of spelunkers, students, professionals from government and private sectors nationwide convened to listen to lectures which aimed to promote responsible cave eco-tourism. In-between lectures, the participants undertook actual cave spelunking in Sumaging and Lumiang caves.
Other MGB participants in the NCC Meeting and Cave Congress were Ross Dominic Agot and Madonna Feliz Madrigal, both geologists of LGSD who were also directly involved in MGB's Karst Subsidence Hazard Assessment and Mapping Project.
By: Lands Geological Survey Division
Discussion and lecture in Karst Subsidence during the NCC meeting.
Actual demonstration and practicals in spelunking.