NUNUNGAN, Lanao del Norte – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has formally declared the Mount Inayawan Range Natural Park (MIRNP) here as the 53rd ASEAN heritage park.
GOV. Imelda dela Cruz Quibranza lead the unveiling of Mount Inayawan Range Natural Park plaque. (Bonita L. Ermac)
This declaration coincided with the 64th Araw ng Lanao del Norte at Pantar Lake here on Wednesday, June 28.
The declaration was made in accordance with the ASEAN declaration on heritage parks on Dec. 18, 2003 in Yangon, Myanmar.
This was approved last year by the ASEAN ministerial meeting on the environment via ad referendum, signed by his excellency Dato Lim Jock Hoi, secretary general of ASEAN and the chairperson of the 16th AMME, Dr. Siti Nurbaya Bakar, minister of environment and forestry, Indonesia.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Field Operations in Western Mindanao Assistant Arleigh Adorable confirmed that MIRNP is the largest remaining virgin forest in Lanao del Norte. It has
an elevation of 1,563 meters and three major lakes, Malaig, Pantar, and Songgod.
MIRNP sustains the economic life of the people here, including adjacent municipalities Sapad, Kapatagan, and Lala.
More than 1,000 households depend on the park for irrigation, for industrial and domestic water supply, as well as food. It also serves as the center of their belief as a protector and provider for their needs.
"This is the 53rd ASEAN Heritage Park in the ASEAN region, the 11th in the Philippines, and amazingly, the fourth in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), we have the most number of ASEAN heritage parks in the country and in 10 compared to other regions," said Adorable.
"The Mount Inayawan Range Natural Park is another treasure that Filipinos can truly be proud of and this brings honor and pride to the people of Lanao del Norte," he added.
Dr. Arvin Diesmos of the ASEAN Center for Diversity said the ASEAN Heritage Program highlights the importance of protected areas, areas with high conservation importance, outstanding worthiness, and biodiversity values in regional and global efforts for biodiversity.
"This AHP is a precious jewel on Mindanao as it is one of the key biodiversity in the region and is home of diverse species," said Diesmos.
“Moreover, the natural park has a high ethnobiological significance, surrounding forest intrinsically pride of the customs, values, and race-ways of life of the Islamic Maranao communities, our brothers and sisters, the Maranao group," Diesmos said.
"We commend the support of all stakeholders particularly the provincial government of Lanao del Norte and local government of Nunungan in the participatory governance of the park contributing to sustainable management," Diesmos said.