Lake Lanao (Ranao or Ranaw in the Maranao dialect), is located in the Province ofLanao del Sur with normal elevation of 701.65 meters above sea level. It has an area of 357.00 square kilometers and a mean depth of 60.00 meters, with the deepest part at 112.00 meters. It is one of the seventeen (17) Ancient Lakes of the World. It used to be home to eighteen ( 18) endemic species of freshwater fish that cannot be found anywhere else.

To ensure protection of forest cover and water yield for hydropower, irrigation and domestic use, Lake Lanao was proclaimed as a watershed reservation through Presidential Proclamation 971 in 1992.

However, through the years, Lake Lanao has not been spared from various anthropogenic activities related with the growing demand of the lake’s resources, such as more water for domestic and agricultural use as well as for hydro-power generation, boating, ritual use, water sports, fishes for domestic consumption and livelihood, and host of numerous lake’s related uses. As we recognize that sustainable management of water is critical as all life forms require water in order to survive. The response to the challenges shall also be an integrated, cross-ministerial, and cross-sector approach for the future of Lake Lanao and its environs.

Thus, to guarantee that maximum and sustainable benefits redound to the people of Lanao, Bangsamoro community and Filipino as a whole, it is important to create an agency that will be tasked to preserve, properly utilize and develop Lake Lanao.

This bill, therefore, seeks to create the Ranao Development Authority as the agency that will be the lead institution to manage the development, utilization and preservation of Lake Lanao. The Authority shall create the framework and plan designed to protect, conserve, rehabilitate and develop the lake. The Ranao Development Authority shall be consistent with Section 22 of Article XII of the Organic Law for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in so far as the exploration, utilization and development of lake Lanao for the grant of rights, concessions and sharing of revenues derived from the use of lake Lanao as source of energy in which case, the observance of co-management principle enshrined in Section 34 of Article XII shall apply. It is only in this respect that the co-management
principle shall be observed.

Principal Author: MP MAISARA C. DANDAMUN-LATIPH

Co-Author: MP Abdulraof Macacua, MP Punduma B. Sani, MP Ziaurrahman A.Adiong, MP Safrullah M. Dipatuan, MP Abdullah G. Macapaar, MP Ali B. Solaiman, MP Said M. Shick, MP Basit Abbas, MP Edrieza Nasser H. Rim bang, MP Diamila D. Ramos, MP Mohammad Zainoden P. Bato, MP
Jamel D. Macaraya, MP Rasul E. Ismael, MP Marjanie S. Macasalong, MP Aida M. Silongan, MP Eddie Mapag Alih, MP Susana S. Anayatin, MP
Abdullah E. Gayak, MP Romeo C. Saliga, MP Hussein P. Munoz