Barangay officials of Bulo, Tabuk City in a recent meeting are working towards the regulation of activities at the Bulo Lake which recently became a popular tourist spot in the city as observed through the social media.
The lake which is a rain-fed impounding dam set at a picturesque grazing land is actually a reservoir for the nearby rice farm-lands dependent on rain water during the summer season, doubling as a fishing ground for the locals.
It also serves as a water source for drinking and spot for cows and carabaos to cool down. The vast grasslands serve as a pastureland.
According to Barangay Kagawad Brendon Sangoy, the more or less 282-hectare land is a reserved area for the barangay local government. This includes the 12 hectares school site and the 1000 square meters allotted for the cemetery.
“Gapu ta tourist site daytoy, ken ada met dagiti rumbeng a protektaran, napagnunumuan mi a masapol maisimpa dagiti patakaran a suruten dagiti bisita tapnu saan a madadael ti kinapintas ti lugar,” he said.
The barangay local government he said has proposed the Bulo Lake as a tourist spot in 2015.
The official identified the following as among those to be included in a barangay ordinance to ensure the preservation of the site’s natural features. First he is the need to preserve the meadows, so they will be identifying areas for parking, picnics and viewing area. Cars and motorcycles he said should not be allowed to just roam around the area.
Washing dishes and throwing garbage at the lake is also prohibited as he encourages visitors to stay at least 10 meters away from the lake to avoid such.
People are also prohibited to bath, wash, swim, ride boats and do other activities at the lake.
“Dagiti mapan iti asideg ti lake, at least 10 meters away, ket dagiti lang kuma agpa-picture, saan a pati dagiti lugan ken dagiti agpicnic ta sumali da piman iti view,” the kagawad explained.
Visitor must also bring home their garbage. “Masapol agitugot dagiti agbisita iti pangkabelan da ti basura,” he said.
Another prohibition Sangoy said is cooking with firewood and putting up bonfires in the area, noting that several visitors coming at night had been doing that leaving spots of burnt grass in the area.
“Maiparit metlang ti aginum ken awan kuma mapan ijay lugar after 7 PM ta ag-close tayo,” he appealed citing that several individuals are also staying overnight while some stay until the wee hours.
Currently, the area is open from 6 AM to 7PM except on Monday and Thursday. But they are considering the option to open the site on a daily basis starting at 5 AM every day to accommodate joggers visiting the lake.
Meanwhile, Barangay Secretary Daria Guinnayao disclosed that since October 3 last year, the barangay was able to collect more than P100 thousand from the P20.00 per head entrance fee.
Last Sunday, January 10 she said records the most number of visitors in the area with around 1,600 individuals based on their collection of P32,000.00, exclusive of those coming from the said barangay and children visiting the site.
Some of the funds collected she said were used for the daily operation of the site to include incentive for seven assigned personnel manning the entrance and monitoring the area, motorcycle fuel, purchase of garage sacks, backfilling of the road, purchase of face mask, tables and thermal scanner among others.
She said that use of face mask is being checked at the gate as she appealed to all visitors to avoid mingling with other groups and observe the health protocols to prevent the spread of the COVID 19 virus.
By GB Gacuya
