DENR-8 spearheads Mahagnao Festival

BURAUEN, LEYTE, Philippines — The 1st Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park (MVNP) Festival was successfully staged in this town last February 3 by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region 8.

DENR-8 Regional Director Leonardo Sibbaluca said the festival’s theme was “Promoting MVNP ecotourism, conservation, education and ensuring quality life of local communities.”

Sibbaluca told reporters the event was highlighted with tree planting and then trekking competition and kayak racing at Lake Mahagnao, the bigger of two crater lakes at the volcano.

At least 500 people from Barangay Mahagnao and neighboring villages of Burauen and La Paz towns attended the pioneering event, together with DENR-8 officials and personnel, local government officials and representatives of government agencies.

Sibbaluca said the Mahagnao Festival also featured the local market day for local farmers and residents to sell their local delicacies, agricultural products, indigenous foods, fresh water fish, and other aquatic products,  displayed on seven participating booths.

Mahagnao Volcano, with a peak elevation of 860 meters (2,820 feet) above sea level, is the focal point of the natural park and classified by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology as a dormant volcano, although it reportedly erupted in 1895.

Sibbaluca added that the volcano straddles the towns of Burauen and La Paz and is bounded by MacArthur town. The MVNP has two volcanic crater lakes, Mahagnao and Malagsum.

Mahagnao, the bigger lake where the kayak racing was held, has an area of 15 hectares and a depth of 30 meters.

Sibbaluca said Presidential Proclamation 184 (dated August 27, 1937) created the Mahagnao Volcano National Park covering an area of 635 hectares.

Proclamation 1157 (dated February 3, 1998) renamed the park to Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park, under the National Integrated Protected Areas System of the DENR, added Sibbaluca.  (FREEMAN)