ANTIQUE – The Antique provincial government urged the public visiting the 50 caves in the province to help stop the destruction of rock formations, avoid littering, and conserve these underground chambers.The call was made as the province observes Cave Month this April.
Ma. Vivian Marfil, Environment and Natural Resources Officer, said Provincial Ordinance 2021-156, which institutionalized the Cave Month celebration in Antique, aimed to raise public awareness on the importance of caves, serving as habitat for the flora and fauna and water reservoir.
“We are enjoining tourists and explorers to help protect the caves by not destroying the rock formations and leaving them as they are because of their cultural and archaeological importance,” she said.
Marfil added the caves served as a refuge of the people during the war, one of which is the Igbaclag Cave in Barangay Aningalan in San Remigio town, now a tourist attraction.
On their part, Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member Pio Jessielito Sumande, author of the Cave Month ordinance, said the technical working group would convene next month to discuss measures for the protection and conservation of the caves.
He said he would propose that tourists and explorers coordinate with municipal tourism offices, especially on their purpose for visiting caves because some gathered bird nests.
“The cave explorers gather bird’s nests using a torch to drive away the mother birds, destroying also the cave environment,” he said.
The SP member said some explorers are out to do treasure hunting and destroy rock formations.
This year’s Cave Month celebration was launched in the province on Monday, April 15, with the mounting of an exhibit showcasing the Igbaclag, Giyub, and Kagang caves and flora and fauna at the Antique capitol lobby for two days and at the University of Antique in Sibalom campus for a week starting Wednesday, April 17. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency)/PN
