REVISITING PROBLEMS IN OUR LAKES

REVISITING PROBLEMS IN OUR LAKES

Are there problems in our lakes that we do not notice? That is the first question we should ask ourselves, because too often, we only react when the crisis is already staring us in the face. When fish kills happen, when floods become unmanageable, when water sources dry up—then we suddenly scramble for answers. But should we always wait for our problems to hit the headlines before we act on them?

The Philippines is blessed with more than 59 natural lakes, not counting man-made reservoirs. These are not just water bodies—they are our lifeblood. Laguna de Bay alone sustains some 15 million people in Metro Manila and CALABARZON. Lake Lanao is not only the second-largest lake but also the cultural heart of the Maranao. Taal Lake is both an ecological treasure and a tourism magnet. Smaller lakes like Buhi, Mainit, Sebu, and Naujan are home to endemic species and migratory birds. In short, our lakes are food baskets, water sources, cultural sanctuaries, and natural flood buffers all rolled into one.

Yet, as we marked World Lake Day 2025, it was painful to admit that most of our lakes are in crisis. Laguna de Bay is choked with illegal fish cages and untreated sewage—did you know that 64% of Metro Manila’s wastewater is still discharged untreated? Taal Lake, despite its “protected” status, remains crowded with aquaculture pens. Lake Lanao suffers from watershed deforestation and declining endemic species. Naujan Lake, a Ramsar site, has lost nearly a third of its migratory birds in just two decades.

Where are these problems reported? Usually in academic studies, DENR or BFAR reports, or NGO field notes—but rarely do they reach the mainstream conversation unless there is a disaster. Our lakes are slowly dying in silence.

Which brings me to the next question: aside from BFAR, who else should be involved in protecting and preserving our lakes? The DENR, yes—but governance today is so fragmented. LLDA manages Laguna Lake, LGUs have jurisdiction through devolved powers, and various agencies step in for fisheries, irrigation, power, and tourism. The result? Overlaps, finger-pointing, and weak enforcement. Local politics doesn’t help either. Let’s be honest: in Laguna de Bay and Taal Lake, powerful families benefit from illegal cages, which explains why demolition drives fail repeatedly.

And what is the government doing to remove plastic pollution in our lakes? In truth, very little. Less than 20% of Metro Manila’s sewage is treated before entering Laguna de Bay. Imagine the plastics that come with that wastewater. What about invasive species? Do we have a serious program to eliminate janitor fish in Laguna Lake or knife fish in Taal? So far, it seems we are fighting these invasions with half-hearted campaigns.

Then there is the question of protecting native and endemic species. Lake Buhi’s sinarapan, the world’s smallest fish, is under pressure. Lake Lanao’s unique gobies are disappearing. Yet, I hardly hear of serious national programs to revive them. Where are the hatcheries, restocking initiatives, or watershed reforestation drives linked directly to lake conservation?

I believe what we need is a comprehensive lakes protection law—a National Lakes and Wetlands Protection and Restoration Act. Current laws—the Fisheries Code, the Clean Water Act, the NIPAS Act—are all scattered, and none provide a unified framework. Why not create a National Lakes Authority, or at least a strengthened Wetlands Bureau under DENR, with clear zoning powers, enforcement authority, and enough budget muscle? Why not earmark a Lake Conservation Fund from aquaculture fees, eco-tourism revenues, and environmental charges? Why not designate “lake wardens” with police powers to remove illegal structures?

The big question is whether we have the political will. Because at the heart of this issue is governance, and at the heart of governance is accountability. Our lakes are commons—no one owns them, but everyone depends on them. And when commons are abused, we all suffer.

We cannot continue treating our lakes as dumping grounds, fish pens, or reclamation sites. They are not just bodies of water—they are our water security, our food security, our cultural identity. If we lose them, we lose far more than fish or flood control; we lose part of who we are as a nation.

So let us revisit the problems in our lakes—not tomorrow, not when the next fish kill makes the news, but now. Because saving them is not just an environmental issue. It is a survival issue.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

11-24-2025