Pagsanjan River

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Pagsanjan River
Origin Mount Banahaw
Mouth Easternmost lobe of Laguna de Bay
Basin countries Philippines
Source elevation 2,158 meters above sea level
Mouth elevation less than 2 meters above sea level
Basin area 311.77 square kilometers

The Pagsanjan River (Tagalog: Ilog Pagsanjan), on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, is a river system that flows through the towns of Lumban, Pagsanjan, and Cavinti. It is sometimes also referred to as the Pagsanjan-Lumban River.

It is also one of 21 major tributaries of Laguna de Bay, and is said to be responsible for up to 35% of the water that flows into the lake. It is thus regularly monitored by the Laguna Lake Development Authority(LLDA) through one of its 15 river monitoring stations.[1]

The river's headwaters drain from the famed Mount Banahaw, and from there cascade down gorges and waterfalls which have made Pagsanjan one of Laguna Province's most popular tourist destinations. For the people who live near it, the Pagsanjan River is an important source of food, water and livelihood. [2]

Contents

[edit] Origin of the Name

At one point when heading up the river, the waters fork into two smaller tributaries, which is where it got its name from - the Tagalog "pinagsangahan ng dalawang ilog"” means "the place where two rivers branch out".[3]

[edit] Tourism

Located just 100 kilometers from Manila, and with its headwaters in the legendary Mount Banahaw, the Pagsanjan River is a major tourist attraction because what the local Government of Pagsanjan describes as "the awe-inspiring gorge, the breathtaking roaring rapids, and the spectacular world-famous water falls." [2]

The waterfalls for which the Pagsanjan river is famous is actually the 300-foot "Magdapio Falls", located in the town of Cavinti. Because the boat ride towards the falls starts in Pagsanjan, however, it is most often referred to as "Pagsanjan Falls". This "boat ride" consists of a 17 kilometer trip in a banca, shooting 16 rapids, and passing through gorges over a hundred feet high, all the while guided by a set of bangkeros positioned at each end of the boat.[3]

The natural environment of the river has been preserved for the tourists who while taking the banca ride "will see wild orchids, ferns, vines, spiders, dragonflies, lizards on the rocks, chattering monkeys and the beautiful sun rays passing through the trees, touching peaceful water and high above are the multi-colored birds flirting in the bushes."[2]

[edit] Conservation

While the river itself appears quite clean to tourists, there is still considerable environmental concern. The LLDA notes that the Pagsanjan River Subwatershed is the second largest of the 21 sub basins that feed into Laguna de Bay, covering 311.77 square kilometers[4], and since it feeds so much water into the lake, it is "one of the biggest contributors of pollution loading".[1]

In the latest (December 2005[5]) Water Quality Status Report listed on the Laguna Lake Development Authority's site, the Pagsanjan River was listed as "Class D, with high total coliform concentration."

According to the DENR's Water Usage & Classification for Fresh Water, Class D Quality freshwater is suitable for agriculture, irrigation, livestock watering and industrial water supply class II.

The report also indicated that this status had been "maintained" since the river was last monitored.

The LLDA's conservation efforts for the major tributaries and watersheds of Laguna de Bay have led to the creation of the Laguna de Bay River Basin Councils, of which the Pagsanjan-Lumban River Basin Management &. Development Fdn. is particularly tasked with conservation of the Pagsanjan.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b The Laguna de Bay Masterplan:Executive Summary. Retrieved on 2007-08-18.
  2. ^ a b c Welcome to Pagsanjan the tourist capital of Laguna
  3. ^ a b Lainez, Aileen (January 22, 2001), “Pagsanjan reborn”, Manila Bulletin, <http://www.travelsmart.net/article/101876> 
  4. ^ Liongson, Leonardo (2005), “Laguna Lake’s Tributary River Watersheds”, in Lasco, Rodel D. & Espaldon, Ma. Victoria O., Ecosystems and People: the Philippine Millennium Ecosystem Assesment (MA) Sub-global Assesment, Environmental Forestry Programme, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, <http://www.millenniumassessment.org/documents_sga/Philippine%20SGA%20Report.pdf> 
  5. ^ Laguna Lake Development Authority (December 2005 1url=http://www.llda.gov.ph/SD_Mondriaan/MonthlyReport_files/2005/December_Home.htm).&#32;"Monthly Water Quality Status Report December 2005". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-09-30.
  6. ^ Cariño, Jose III, [www.adb.org/Water/narbo/2007/llda-peer-review/IWRM-Carino.pdf Integrated Water Resources Management:The Laguna de Bay Experience], <www.adb.org/Water/narbo/2007/llda-peer-review/IWRM-Carino.pdf>. Retrieved on 30 September 2007 

[edit] See also