UPLB [Philippines Univ. Los Baños] quest to save inland water resources in Region IV [Southern Tagalog, Philippines]

There are from 68 to 75 listed lakes in the Philippines. Seventeen of these are found in Region IV; Laguna Province has ten of them. The two most studied lakes are Laguna de Bay and Taal. Because of their proximity to the Manila Metropolis, these two highly productive lakes are also met with a host of ecological problems that have bred problems that are economic, social, health and food related. There are lessons that could be learned from experiences with these lakes that are also applicable to the other lakes in the region that need to be protected, conserved, and restored/rehabilitated. Early researches on Laguna de Bay were primarily about physiology and reproduction in fishes. Although signs of ecological deterioration were already evident as early as the 1930s, insufficient attention was given to this developing problem. Eventually, declining open fisheries production, changes in the composition of fish catch a disappearance of prized species, and the dominance of the low-cost fish species became problems to contend with. As fishpen areas, expanded, the marginalized fishermen underwent derivation of fishing grounds and of catch commensurate to their efforts and there was social unrest. Environmental assessment studies followed, and soon the pronouncement of an extremely stressed lake was upheld. Efforts by LLDA at bringing lake management to a success through the reversal of the signs of a deteriorating lake were not seen in the 2005 ecosystem sub-global assessment that focused on the lake. A perspective is forwarded that the limitation of the LLDA in achieving success at management lies in its limited partnership with academia in saving the lake. Linkage with academe might help bring to fruition the essence of a holister, comprehensive transdisciplinary approach to lake resources management. Academe's participation can bring in an approach to lake management that recognizes the presence of a mountain-lake continuum which must be addressed in attempts at lake conservation, protection, restoration-rehabilitation. The same lack of a substantial participation of academe in the management of lake resources of Taal Lake is also sorely felt. For the UPLB to bring about a most productive partnership with the LLDA, which should be retained as the agency to carry out its mandate, the former should establish an institution called Southern Tagalog Regional Center for Limnological Development (STARCLIR). STARCLIR shall be a knowledge and information hub on lake and inland waters not only for the region but also for the country. It shall be an institution to amalgamate efforts at integrating concerns in the forest-urban-lake continuum. As such it shall also address the university's link-up with the local communities. The latter are a necessary element to the existence of the STARCLIR for it is recognized that no amount of effort by academe or government units can achieve success if local community support is wanting. Community support can be won if they are shown results in what they are encouraged to do, and that they can eventually continue with the effort on their own and still be assured success. Such was the case with the aquatic macrophyte biosorption system developed at the UPLB. The perceived challenges over which the UPLB should assert its lead role in the quest to save the lakes of Region IV are: a) Harmonization of the understanding of the goal, vision and mission alongside lake resources management; b) Rational use of resources/financial manpower and time built on the eradication of red-tape and expensive overhead; c) Balanced information disciplines and specializations so as to achieve a balance between context-driven research with that which is output-driven and development oriented; d) Eradication of the information divide between academe and government agencies; e) actualization of research and development within the context of a mountain-to-lake continuum; and f) Sustainable community-based approach to the study,protection, conservation, restoration/rehabilitation of damage lake ecosystems. The above challenges form part of the matrix on which the following pressing problems about our lakes must be addressed namely: 1) food security and health preservation in lakes and their watersheds; 2) biodiversity conservation, 3) alternative sources of livelihood using recyclable materials and substances, 4) pollution control, 5) disaster preparedness and mitigation, 6) carrying capacity estimates, 7) risk and vulnerability assessment and mitigation approaches; and 8) coping strategies during climate change.