CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – There is a new cave in Sta. Maria town in this province which could be a potential tourist attraction in the near future.
The discovery of the cave called Pinagdaop was announced by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon).
The cave is still subject to DENR’s analysis for proper management, protection, and conservation of the natural resources and wildlife found inside and outside the cave.
DENR-CALABARZON regional executive director Nilo Tamoria, in their report, said that it is the type of cave in which tunnels are created between rocks stacked on the mountain slopes.
He added that the Pinagdaop Cave is located within Presidential Proclamation 1636 in Barangay Cueva in Sta. Maria, Laguna and has an elevation of 514 meters above sea level.
In 2021, the Pinagdaop cave was opened to the public to be one of the attractions in NSJ Forest Park in Barangay Cueva. It has the widest road inside at 4.39 meters, while the narrowest is 0.64 meters.
The DENR-CALABARZON recommends that the cave will fall under Class 1, where it has delicate and fragile geological formations, endangered isolated lives, and dangerous conditions.
The Community Environment Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Sta. Cruz, Laguna has coordinated with the Sta. Maria local government unit for the proper supervision and planning of activities that will assist in the renovation and protection of the Pinagdaop Cave.