WATER RESOURCE UTILIZATION OF LAKE LANAO IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES: ITS IMPLICATIONS TO SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC AND SOCIOCULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

Lake Lanao is considered the second largest inland aquatic resource and deepest freshwater lake in the Philippines. It is also home to the Meranao Muslim ethno-linguistic group who generally depends on lake resources for... [ view full abstract ]

Lake Lanao is considered the second largest inland aquatic resource and deepest freshwater lake in the Philippines. It is also home to the Meranao Muslim ethno-linguistic group who generally depends on lake resources for economic and sociocultural uses. The water from   Lake Lanao has been utilized to generate power to supply at least 70% energy requirements of the Mindanao region since the 1950s. Over the years, anthropogenic activities pose serious challenges not only to the integrity and quality of the lake resources but also to the economic and social well-being of the residents. Thus, this study aims to determine the modes of water resource utilization of Lake Lanao, the socioeconomic and cultural development of the lakeshore communities and their implications to sustainable water resource governance of the lake. Concurrent triangulation approach was the research design of the study involving 500 survey respondents and 16 key informants.  Findings reveal that the lake water has been used for domestic and economic purposes like energy generation, farm irrigation, recreation, fish and shell harvesting. On the other hand, the lake has increasingly become the sink of   all types of organic wastes emanating from the households and other anthropogenic activities of the residents. Moreover, the socio-economic development of these communities has little to do with the benefits   accruing from the revenues generated from the establishment of the hydropower plants that gets water from Lake Lanao. Socio-culturally, although the Lake fosters observance of Islamic religious rituals of the Meranao, specifically ablution, but the microbial contamination of the water threatens the health condition of the residents. The above findings have significant implications to lake water resource governance. Appropriate and efficient management of Lake Lanao needs to consider the interconnections of the different ecosystems (water, land, forest) surrounding the lake through ridge to reef or watershed approach to restore its   ecological balance. The sustainable utilization of Lake Lanao water resources have bearing on the lake’s current and future status and its ability to serve the needs of the immediate lakeshore community and the hydropower demands of the increasing power consumers  of the region.

Keywords: water resource utilization, Lake Lanao, Meranaw, climate change, water governance