Beauty & Bounty of Mindanao

A HIDDEN WONDER OF NATURE
MINDANAO'S LIMUNSUDAN FALLS

At my age and at the rate I move around the country, I am amazed that there are still hidden wonders of nature in my native island of Mindanao which I am only discovering now.

Last week, I and the team from the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) crossed the mountains separating Bukidnon from the northern provinces on the way to the Balik Probinsya Groundbreaking in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte.

The Talakag-Iligan City Road is not an often-travelled route because of security concerns but having been born and raised in Mindanao during the years of conflict, I have taken these threats as part of our daily lives.

Our mission was to see for ourselves the fabled Limunsudan Falls located in the boundaries of Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Oriental.

I have long heard of the falls which is also called by two other names - Bayug Falls because it is in the Bayug River and Mindamora Falls, a name given by the native Maranaos.

The area where the waterfalls is located is also the subject of a territorial dispute between Iligan City and Talakag, Bukidnon.

The established fact though is that it is in an area declared as a sacred place of worship by the native Higaonons who have designated a "Kumba" or a ritual place overlooking the waterfalls.

The trip of discovery was worth the risks.

What I saw truly amazed me.

Limunsudan Falls is a two-tiered waterfalls which drops twice at a total height of about 200-meters which could make it perhaps the highest in the whole country.

Our visit was quick but the discovery will have a great impact on the development mindset of officials of the MinDA.

To preserve the waterfalls, a well-planned environemntal protection program must be undertaken in the forests of Bukidnon where the headwaters are.

Most of all, government must be mindful of the plea of the Higaonon natives that the waterfalls, which is sacred to them, be preserved for the future generation.

As Chairman of MinDA, I will bear these thoughts in my mind as we continue to draft an evolving plan to undertake a sustainable development plan for Mindanao.

#BeautyBountyOfMindanao!
#PreserveWondersOfNature!
#InterGenerationalResponsibility!

(This video presentation on the Beauty and Bounty of Mindanao was produced by the MinDA Beauty & Bounty of Mindanao Media Team.)