STATEMENT OF SENATOR RICHARD J. GORDON ON THE CREATION OF LAKE LANAO DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

The Act Creating the Lake Lanao Development Authority, Defining its Power, Functions and Duties, and for Other Purposes is one of the bills that we will push at the 18th Congress as we realize the great potential of the lake.

On July 24, we received a resolution from Vice Governor Mohammad Khalid Raki-in Adiong and Board Members of the province of Lanao del Sur as they paid a courtesy visit. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 009 that they submitted to us states their strong support for our bill. We are delighted to endorse the resolution and we hope that we can start the hearings, together with the House of Representatives, the soonest possible.

Lake Lanao is the largest freshwater lake in Mindanao and the second largest freshwater lake in the Philippines. It is one of the seventeen ancient lakes of the world and used to be home to eighteen endemic species of freshwater fish. Its rich marine resources provide the fisherfolks in the surrounding cities and municipalities a major source of livelihood. A hydroelectric plant is also installed in Lanao Lake and Agus River which generates 70% of the electricity used in Mindanao.

For that matter, it is imperative that we restore, regrow and preserve the Lake Lanao and create an Authority that will implement its over-all development and its surrounding areas. We want to bring back its greatness and its culture so that we can promote the economic development of Mindanao and so that we can give our fellowmen in the region a chance to improve their living conditions.

Moreover, we want to help Marawi City, the capital of Lanao del Sur, to rise again after all the destructions caused by the Marawi war. But, we cannot have a new Marawi without developing the entire province and restoring Lake Lanao. A master plan must immediately be created so that we can start reviving not just the lake and the province, but our Muslim brothers' lives, hope and dignity, as well.