Siao bill to create Iligan Waterfalls Dev’t Authority

By Frank E. Dosdos, Jr.,
Sita Asequia,
Correspondents,
andNora Soriño,
Iligan City Bureau Chief

ILIGAN CITY – This city’s lone district representative has recently filed a bill which seeks to create an office tasked in preserving and protecting the waterfalls and rivers within the city.

Authored by Rep. Freddie Siao, House Bill No. 3494 seeks to create the Iligan City Waterfalls and River Development Authority with the function of preserving, protecting, managing, and developing all waterfalls, river basins, river systems and natural waterways within the city.

The bill aims to centralize in one independent government agency the responsibility of taking charge of the city’s waterfalls, rivers, river basins and the waterways for the purpose of protecting, managing and developing them with the end in view of securing their permanent and rational utilization.

There are two major rivers situated in Iligan City, the Iligan River and Mandulog River with 10 tributaries: the Agus River, Malindawag River, Pugaan River, Nonucan River, Linamon River, Maria Cristina River, Kapay River, Buru’un River, Baslayan River,  andBayog River.

About 28 waterfalls namely the Abaga Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Dalipuga Falls, Digkianlao Falls, Dodiongan Falls, Gata Falls, Guimbalolan Falls, Hindang Falls, Ikog Falls, Kalisaon Falls, Kalubihon Falls, Kamadahan Falls, Kibalang Falls, Languyon Falls, Langilanon Falls, Limunsudan Falls, Linanot Falls, Lumbatin Falls, Malaigang Falls, Malapacan Falls, Malinao Falls, Maria Cristina Falls, Mimbalut Falls, Pampam Falls, Pindarangahan Falls, Rogongon Falls, Sikyan Falls and Tinago Falls are all located in Iligan City.

It was learned that the joint efforts of the public and private sectors have kept the rivers and waterfalls clean and obstruction-free all these years.

Siao sees that for the long term an independent office is required which shall be tasked to address the preservation and development of the city’s rivers, waterfalls and natural waterways on a permanent and consistent basis.

This can be achieved through the creation of the Iligan City Waterfalls and River Development Authority as provided in his proposed Bill, Siao said.