TBOLI, South Cotabato (MindaNews / 3 January) – For 12 years now, the mystical and scenic Lake Holon, a popular trekking spot here, is taking its annual respite starting Saturday, January 3.
Councilor Kirk Tuan, chairperson of the Sangguniang Bayan’s committee on tourism, said the temporary two-month closure “will allow the ecosystem of Lake Holon sufficient time to breathe, regenerate, and recover from the effects of continuous human activity, thereby ensuring its long-term sustainability and preservation for future generations.”
“Your cooperation and understanding is highly appreciated as we work together to protect and preserve Lake Holon,” he said.
Tuan said the shutting down of the lake is pursuant to Municipal Executive Order 63, Series of 2025 titled “An Executive Order for the Temporary Closure of Lake Holon to Local and International Visitors.”
The lake will reopen in March 2026 in a yet unspecified date before the start of the annual Seslong Festival, he added.
The weeks-long Seslong Festival is celebrated annually in line with the municipal foundation anniversary.
Tboli was founded on March 5, 1974 through Presidential Decree 407 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
In a statement, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Region 12 (DENR-12) noted the temporary closure “is an essential conservation measure aimed at protecting the lake’s biodiversity, preserving water quality, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Lake Holon as a natural and cultural heritage site.”
“Limiting human activity during this period helps maintain the ecological balance of the area and supports responsible ecotourism practices,” it said.
DENR-12 said the temporary closure of Lake Holon is consistent with national environmental laws and sustainable protected area management principles, including the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act.
Lake Holon, an ecotourism destination within the Allah Valley Protected Landscape (AVPL), is dubbed as the “Crown Jewel of the South.”
The local government first restricted the lake to the public for nine months from June 2014 to March 2015. In 2016, it closed the area for about two months while the closures in 2017, 2018 and 2019 lasted for at least two months. In 2020, it was closed the whole year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The lake was reopened to the public in 2021 and thereafter every year.
Tourists largely flock to the lake for the adventure trek, to swim in its cold waters and to commune with nature. When camping overnight, it is advisable to bring warm clothing due to dropping temperatures in the area.
Lake Holon (formerly named Lake Maughan) is nestled on Mt. Melibengoy, also known as Mt. Parker.
The mountain and the lake were named after US military officers Frank Parker and Russell Maughan who died when their plane crashed while they were mapping the area in the 1930s.
Long before it became a tourism attraction, Holon, which means “deep water” in Tboli, had been considered a sacred place by the tribe, though it used to be associated with death and destruction.
On Sept. 6, 1995, Lake Holon’s crater wall collapsed, allegedly due to treasure hunting activities, sending an estimated 30 million cubic meters of water crashing downstream for 130 kilometers.
At least 53 people were killed and P278 million worth of infrastructure and crops were damaged.
In 2003 and 2004, the national government recognized Lake Holon as the “cleanest inland body of water in the country.”
From 2016 to 2017, the lake was also recognized among the world’s “Top 100 Sustainable Destinations,” an initiative by global Green Destinations. (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)
