CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office-Tayabas is preparing to establish Dagatan Lake in Tayabas City, Quezon as a critical habitat.
Dagatan Lake is a two-hectare lake in the secluded area of Sitio Busal, Barangay Palale and is home to some important species of flora and fauna.
During an assessment conducted in 2011, Philippine Duck was found in the area. Philippine Duck is listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species in 2011 as vulnerable, hence, the recommendation for the lake to be established as critical habitat.
The establishment is in line with Republic Act No. 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 and Republic Act No. 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001), according to DENR-Calabarzon.
This will protect wildlife and its habitat, along with other abundant species of fish, mollusks, and birds found in the lake.
An assessment was again conducted in the third week of September with the help of the Tayabas city government through the City Environment and Natural Resources Office and officials of Barangay Ibabang Palale
They were able to gather pertinent documentation and proof that the lake has been inhabited by wildlife needed as one of the bases for its establishment.