‘Cave is not a venue for party and drinking session’

A group of youth, presumably minors, got a backlash from netizens from having a drinking spree inside the Taraw Caves, one of the Community-Based Sustainable Tourism (CBST) Projects in the City Puerto Princesa.

From a post of Rommel M. Cruz on March 4 and was tagged to PCSD spokesperson  John Vincent “Jovic”  Fabello, City Councilor Matthew Mendoza—the current chairman of the City’s Committee on Tourism, DENR-CENRO employee Vivian Obligar-Soriano and other individuals, he condemned the youth for disrespecting the historical site.

“Something is not right with this video and photos sent by a hiker friend who recently visited Taraw Caves and Cliff. This is an important geological site with a rich historical background dating back during the Japanese Occupation,” Cruz’ caption on his posted video and photos.

“This is protected under Caves Act at least in paper.  Your thoughts?”  he added.

In his posted photos, the youngsters are seen having a good time, with hard liquor, inside of the two of the caves complex of Taraw Caves  and in  the video, they talked to each other with loud voices while the other kids were shouting.  This earned negative feedbacks from netizens. Some of their comments are “Aruy! Tumagay pa! Bawal ‘yan mga boy,” “Sila pala dahilan kaya nakabitbit ako pababa ng empty bottle ng emperador,” “Kagagaling na mga bata,” and “Noise, noise should be avoided” among others.

In the thread of discussions of Cruz’ post, the spokesperson of PCSD agreed with the author’s comment and said that he is right that the youth nowadays, lack the proper education on the importance of caves like Taraw of Bgy. San Rafael.

He told Cruz that he will caution the Barangay Council of San Rafael. Cruz thanked Fabello and said that he is willing to help them.

“Taraw Caves (Erkon and Sigmangan Underground River) are classified as Class II and III respectively. There is already a CBST program in place under the management of a peoples’ organization in Bgy. San Rafael. Unfortunately, local residents frequent the cave for some misguided adventure,” Fabello said.

From a reliable source that requested not to mention her name, she said that the involved youth are high school students of Bgy. Babuyan, the adjacent barangay of San Rafael.

Through a chat message, PCSD Spokesperson Jovic  Fabello called the adventures of the said youth as “stupid and dangerous.”

“Cave is not a venue for party and drinking session. It is a place of serenity, mystique and home to different species of animals and organism. Its rock formations need not to be touched and vandalized for the reason that it may not grow anymore because of disturbance,” he explained.

“Pwede pa sila makasuhan under the Caves Act,” he added, referring to the prohibited acts under section 7 of the “National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection” Act of 2001 or the RA 9072.

Paragraph “A” of the said law, of which applicable for the violation of the said youth, states that the prohibited acts are “Knowingly destroying, disturbing, defacing, marring, altering, removing,, or harming the speleogem or speleothem of any cave or altering the free movement of any animal or plant life into or out of any cave.”

“I’ve already informed the Peoples organization tasked to manage Taraw Caves under the CBST program of the City Government of Puerto Princesa to reprimand the persons involved…and enforce strict measures to protect the integrity of the caves,” Fabello confirmed to Palawan Daily News (PDN) team.

He further said that he will visit San Rafael tomorrow afternoon “to discuss the issue with the barangay and the CBST people.”

“Cave complex ang Taraw. ‘Yung nasa video/FB post, Erkon Cave ‘yun, ‘Yun ang upper portion. ‘Yung nasa baba ay ang Sigmangan underground River Cave. Kami ni [former Brgy.] Kapt. Greg Nalica ang nagpangalan sa mga caves,” he said.

“Our caves are our natural heritage that needs to be conserved and managed properly. That’s why we have the ‘Caves Act’ intended to protect caves and its resources. Our youth needs to be educated regarding this matter,” he said.

The Mt. Taraw, resembles a letter “M” when seen afar, particularly when traversing Bgy. Babuyan in the northernpart of Puerto Princesa, has a historical importance during WWII or during the Japanese Occupation. Local hero, Dr. Higinio Mendoza’s group used the cave complex to spy the enemies because of its advantageous location.