Laguna de Bay, lake, the largest inland body of water in the Philippines,

on Luzon just southeast ofManila. Probably a former arm or extension of Manila

Bay cut off by volcanism, Laguna de Bay (Spanish: Lake Bay) has a normal area of
about 356 square miles (922 square km) and is about 32 miles (51 km) long. Its
shallow, crescent-shaped basin is poorly drained by many small streams, and the
surrounding low-lying plains are inundated during seasons of heavy rainfall.
The Pasig River is the lakes outlet to Manila Bay, 10 miles (16 km) northwest. An
important fishing area, with productive wet margins (rice), Laguna de Bay is broken
by two peninsulas in the north and dotted by islands; densely settled Talim (9 miles
[14 km] long) is the largest. Santa Cruz, Bian, and Calamba are towns on the lakes
southern shore.
LEARN MORE in these related ar

Laguna de Ba (Filipino: Lawa ng Laguna, Lawa ng Ba; English: Lake of Laguna, Lake of Ba) is
the largest lake in the Philippineslocated east of Metro Manila between the provinces of Laguna to
the south and Rizal to the north. The freshwater lake has a surface area of 911949 km (352-366 sq
mi), with an average depth of about 2.8 metres (9 ft 2 in) and an elevation of about 1 metre (3 ft 3 in)
above sea level. The lake is shaped like a stylized 'W', with two peninsulas jutting out from the
northern shore. Between these peninsulas, the middle lobe fills the large volcanic Laguna Caldera.
In the middle of the lake is the large island of Talim, which falls under the jurisdiction of the towns
of Binangonan and Cardona in Rizal province.

The lake is one of the primary sources of freshwater fish in the country. Its water drains to Manila
Bay via the Pasig River.

Etymology[edit]

The Laguna de Bay surrounded by the province of Laguna and Rizal and Metro Manila on the north-west; the
town of Bay highlighted.
Laguna de Bay means "Lagoon of [the town of] Bay" for the lakeshore town of Bay(pronounced as
"B'"), the former provincial capital of Laguna province.[4] Alternate spellings of the town's name
include "Bae" or "Ba-i", and in the early colonial times, "Bayi" or "Vahi". Thus, the lake is sometimes
spelled as "Laguna de Bae" or "Laguna de Ba-i", mostly by the locals. [4] The town's name is believed
to have come from the Tagalog word for "settlement" (bahayan), and is related to the words for
"house" (bahay), "shore" (baybayin), and "boundary" (baybay), among others. The introduction of
the English language during theAmerican occupation of the Philippines, elicited confusion as the
English word "bay", referring to another body of water, was mistakenly substituted to the town name
that led to its mispronunciation.[4] However, the word "Bay" in Laguna de Bay has always referred to
the town.[5]

The Spanish word Laguna refers to not just lagoons but also for freshwater lakes, aside fromlago.
[6]
Some examples of the worldwide usage of laguna for lakes include Laguna
Chicabalin Guatemala, Laguna de Gallocanta in Spain, Laguna Catemaco in Mexico and Laguna de
Leche, the largest lake in Cuba. The lake's alternate name, "Laguna Lake", refers to the Province of
Laguna, the province at the southern shore of the lake. (Laguna province, though, was named
because of the large lake and was originally called La Laguna till the early 20th century.[7])

In the pre-Hispanic era, the lake was known as "Puliran Kasumuran" (Laguna Copperplate
Inscription. 900 AD), and later by "Pulilan" (Vocabulario de Lengua Tagala.1613. Pila, Laguna).

Laguna Caldera

Currently, the lake is often incorrectly called "Laguna Bay," including in government websites.

Geography[edit]
The middle part of Laguna de Bay between Mount Sembrano and Talim Island, is the Laguna
Caldera believed to have been formed by two major volcanic eruptions, around 1 million and 27,000-
29,000 years ago. Remnants of its volcanic history are shown by the presence of series
of maars around the area of Tadlac Lake and Mayondon hill in Los Baos, Laguna,[8] another maar at
the southern end of Talim Island, and a solfataric field in Jala Jala.[9]
Satellite view of Central and Southern Luzon showing Laguna de Bay (upper center)

Laguna de Bay is a large shallow freshwater body in the heart of Luzon Island with an aggregate
area of about 911 km2 (352 sq mi) and a shoreline of 220 km (140 mi).[10] It is considered to be the
third largest inland body of water in Southeast Asia after Tonle Sapin Cambodia and Lake
Toba in Sumatra, Indonesia. Laguna de Bay is bordered by the province of Laguna in the east, west
and southwest, the province of Rizal in the north to northeast, and Metropolitan Manila in the
northwest. The lake has an average depth of 2.8 metres (9 ft 2 in) and its excess water is discharged
through the Pasig River.[11][12]

The lake is fed by 45,000 km2 (17,000 sq mi) of catchment areas and its 21 major tributaries. Among
these are the Pagsanjan River which is the source of 35% of the Lake's water, the Santa Cruz
River which is the source of 15% of the Lake's water, the Balanak River, the Marikina River,
the Mangangate River, the Tunasan River, the San Pedro River, the Cabuyao River, the San
Cristobal River, the San Juan River, the Bay, Calo and Maitem rivers in Bay,
the Molawin, Dampalitand Pele rivers in Los Baos, the Pangil River, the Tanay River, the Morong
River, the Siniloan River and the Sapang Baho River.[10] [13]

Uses[edit]
The lake is a multipurpose resource. In order to reduce the flooding in Manila along the Pasig River,
during heavy rains, the peak water flows of the Marikina River are diverted via the Manggahan
Floodway to Laguna de Bay, which serves as a temporary reservoir. In case the water level on the
lake is higher than the Marikina River, the flow on the floodway is reversed, both Marikina River and
the lake drain through Pasig River to Manila Bay.[14]

The lake has been used as a navigation lane for passenger boats since the Spanish colonial era. It
is also used as a source of water for the Kalayaan Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric
Project in Kalayaan, Laguna. Other uses include fishery, aquaculture, recreation, food support for
the growing duck industry, irrigation and a "virtual" cistern for domestic, agricultural, and
industrial effluents.[11] Because of its importance in the development of the Laguna de Bay Region,
unlike other lakes in the country, its water quality and general condition are closely monitored. [15] This
important water resource has been greatly affected by development pressures like population
growth, rapid industrialization, and resources allocation.[16]

Known lake islands include Talim, the largest and most populated island on the lake; [1] Calamba
Island, which is completely occupied by the Wonder Island resort in Calamba, Laguna;[1] Cielito
Lindo, a privately owned island off the coast of mainland Cardona, Rizal;[1][2] Malahi Island which used
to be the site of Maligi Island military reservation, near the southern tip of Talim; [1][1][3] the nearby
islands of Bonga and Pihan, also in Cardona; and Bay Island off the coast of Bay, Laguna, which is
closely associated with the precolonial crocodile-deity myths of that town.

Viewed from Bay, Laguna.

Environmental issues[edit]
At least 18 fish species are known from Laguna de Bay; none are strictly endemic to the lake, but 3
are endemic to the Philippines:Gobiopterus lacustris, Leiopotherapon
plumbeus and Zenarchopterus philippinus.[17] Aquaculture is widespread in Laguna de Bay, but often
involves non-native species.[18] Some of these have escaped and have become invasive species,
representing a threat to the native fish.[19]

Because of the problems facing and threatening the potential of the lake, then President Ferdinand
Marcos signed into law Republic Act (RA) 4850 in 1966 creating the Laguna Lake Development
Authority (LLDA), the main agency tasked to oversee the programs that aimed to develop and
protect Laguna de Bay.[20] Though it started as a mere quasi-government agency with regulatory and
proprietary functions, its charter was strengthened by Presidential Decree (PD) 817 in 1975 and by
Executive Order (EO) 927 in 1983 to include environmental protection and jurisdiction over the
surface waters of the lake basin. In 1993, by virtue of the devolution, the administrative supervision
of the LLDA was transferred to the DENR by EO 149.[21]

Government data showed that about 60% of the estimated 8.4 million people residing in the Laguna
de Bay Region discharge their solid and liquid wastes indirectly to the lake through its tributaries. A
large percentage of these wastes are mainly agricultural while the rest are either domestic or
industrial[22] According to DENR (1997), domestic and industrial wastes contribute almost equally at
30% each. Meanwhile, agricultural wastes take up the remaining 40%. In a recent sensitivity waste
load model ran by the Laguna Lake Development Authority's (LLDA) Integrated Water Resources
Management (IWRM) division, it revealed that 70% of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) loadings
came from households, 19% from industries, and 11% came from land run-off or erosion (LLDA,
2005).

As far as industries and factories are concerned, there are about 1,481 and increase is expected.
[12]
Of the said figure, about 695 have wastewater treatment facilities. Despite this, the lake is
absorbing huge amounts of pollution from these industries in the forms of discharges of industrial
cooling water, toxic spills from barges and transport operations, and hazardous chemicals like lead,
mercury, aluminum and cyanide.[23] Based from the said figure, 65% are classified as pollutive
industries.

The hastened agricultural modernization throughout the region took its toll on the lake. This paved
the way for massive and intensified use of chemical based fertilizers and pesticides whose residues
eventually find their way to the lake basin. These chemicals induce rapid algal growth in the area
that depleted oxygen levels in the water. Hence,oxygen available to the lake is being used up
thereby depleting the available oxygen for the fish, causing massive fish kills.[24]

As far as domestic wastes are concerned, around 10% of the 4,100 metric tons of waste generated
by residents of Metro Manila are dumped into the lake. As reported by the now defunct Metropolitan
Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), only 15% of the residents in the area have an
effective waste disposal system. Moreover, around 85% of the families living along the shoreline do
not have toilets.[16][24]

On January 29, 2008, the Mamamayan Para sa Pagpapanatili ng Pagpapaunlad ng Lawa ng

Laguna (Mapagpala) accused the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) of the deterioration of
Laguna de Bay due to multiplication of fish pens beyond the allowable limit. [25]

Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike[edit]

Main article: Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike
People of Bay/Bae in the Laguna de Bay area, south of Manila, were affected in the aftermath of Typhoon
Ketsana. Part of the image collection of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike

The Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike is a proposed expressway that will start from the coastal
area of Laguna de Bay from Taguig in Metro Manila to Calamba and Los Baos in Laguna.The
project aims to provide a high-standard highway that will speed up traffic between the southern part
of Metro Manila and Laguna, as well as a dike that would mitigate flooding in the western coastal
communities along Laguna Lake.

Protection and conservation of Laguna de Bay[edit]

Further information: Laguna Lake Development Authority

According to the Clean Water Act of 2004, the DENR (through the LLDA) shall implement a
wastewater charge system in all management areas including the Laguna Lake region and Regional
Industrial Centers through the collection of wastewater charges/fees. The system shall be
established on the basis of payment to the government for discharging wastewater into the water
bodies. Wastewater charges shall be established taking into consideration the following: a) to
provide strong economic inducement for polluters to modify their production or management
processes or to invest in pollution control technology in order to reduce the amount of water
pollutants generated; b) to cover the cost of administering water quality management or
improvement programs, including the cost of administering the discharge permitting and water
pollution charge system; c) reflect damages caused by water pollution on the surrounding
environment, including the cost of rehabilitation; d) type of pollutant; e) classification of the receiving
water body; and f) other special attributes of the water body.[26]

The technical aspect regarding the quality of wastewater is given in DENR Administrative Order
1990-35. The order defines the critical water parameters value versus the classification of the body
of water (e.g., lake or river). Discharge permits are issued by the LLDA only if the wastewater being
discharged complied with the said order.[27]

Integrated Coastal Ecosystem Conservation and Adaptive

Management[edit]
CECAM is a 5-year research cooperation between Japanese and Filipino scientists. Seven
monitoring instruments are being used as part of the Continuous and Comprehensive Monitoring
System (CCMS) provided by the Japanese government. [28]

Cultural impact[edit]
Laguna de Bay has had a significant impact on the cultures of the communities that grew up around
its shores, ranging from folk medicine to architecture. For example, the traditional cure for a child
constantly experiencing nose bleed in Victoria, Laguna is to have the child submerge his or her head
in the lake water at daybreak.[29] When nipa huts were more common, huts made in the lake area
were constructed out of bamboo that would first be cured in the waters of Laguna de Bay. [30]Some
experts on the evolution of local mythologies suggest that the legend of Mariang Makiling may have
started out as that of the Lady (Ba'i) of Laguna de Bay, before the legend was transmuted to Mount
Makiling.[31]
LAGUNA DE BAY

ORIGIN

Early geologists had diverse opinions regarding the origin

of Laguna de Bay. Up to this time, the issue that the lake
was previously a volcanic crater or that it originated
through subsidence due to a volcanic eruption still needs
supporting facts. A shallow crater at the southern end of
Talim Island can be found and serves as one evidence of
its volcanic history, i.e., that Laguna de Bay is believed to
have been formed by two major volcanic eruptions
between 27,000-29,000 years ago (UP Planades, 2011).

Based on recent findings, Laguna de Bay was once a part of Manila Bay. This is
evidenced by the discovery of drill cores of marine shell species which can also be found
in Manila Bay. These species of marine shells can also be located in the upper shores of
Bagumbayan (Luneta Park) and in the Marikina Fault in Pasig-Marikina River junction
(Laguna de Bay Master Plan, 1995).

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LAKE ECOSYSTEM

The lakes aggregate surface area is 900 km2 when it is at its average highest elevation
of 12.50 meters, and around 76,000 hectares when it is at its average lowest elevation
of 10.50 meters. It is the largest inland body of water in the Philippines and third largest
freshwater lake in Southeast Asia next to Lake Toba (Santos-Borja, 1994) and Lake
Songkhla of Thailand, with 1,1001,129 and 987 km2 of surface area, respectively
(Gleick, 1993). Laguna de Bay covers almost one half of the 190,000 hectares total area
of all existing lakes in the Philippines (Laguna de Bay Master Plan, 1995). The lake is
bounded by the Sierra Madre mountain ranges on the northeast, the Caliraya volcanic
plateau on the east, mountains of Laguna and Batangas including Mt. Banahaw and Mt.
Makiling on the south and southeast. This Lake has a total volume of 3.2 billion cubic
meters with a shoreline of 220 kms. Average depth of the lake is 2.5 meters.

Around 100 rivers and streams drain into the lake, of which 22 are significant river
systems1. There is only one outlet, the Napindan Channel, through the Pasig River that
drains lake waters to Manila Bay. The Napindan Hydraulic Control Structure (HCS) built
in 1982 controls the outflow to Manila Bay. As designed, the HCS controls the backflow
of saline water and pollution from the Pasig River. In addition to Laguna de Bay, there
are other, smaller, lakes in the region, in particular the Seven Crater Lakes (Sampaloc,
Calibato, Bunot, Palakpakin, Pandin, Yambo and Mohicap) with a total surface area of
305 has. and Tadlak lake in Los Banos which is only 25 has.

These tributary rivers are the Pagsanjan River, the Sta. Cruz River, the Balanak River,
the Marikina River, the Mangangate River, the Tunasan River, the San Pedro River, the
Cabuyao River, the San Cristobal River, the San Juan River, the Bay, Calo, and Maitem
Rivers in Bay, the Molawin, Dampalit and Pele Rivers in Los Baos, the Pangil River, the
Tanay River, the Morong River, the Siniloan River, and the Sapang Baho River, Sta.
Maria, Jala-jala, Pililia, Baras, Pila, Angono, Manggahan, Calauan

Laguna Lake Development Authority

The Philippines' Laguna Lake Development Authority abbreviated as LLDA is one of the attached
agencies of the Philippines'Department of Environment and Natural Resources responsible in the
preservation, development and sustainability of the Laguna de Bay and its 21 major tributary
rivers.The Laguna Lake Development Authority was created by Republic Act No. 4850 (as amended
by Presidential Decree 813), entitled: AN ACT CREATING THE LAGUNA LAKE DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY, PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES, PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

History[edit]
The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) was established in 1966 as a quasi-government
agency that leads, promotes, and accelerates sustainable development in the Laguna de Bay
Region.[1] Regulatory and law-enforcement functions are carried out with provisions on environmental
management, particularly on water quality monitoring, conservation of natural resources, and
community-based natural resource management.[2]
Its mission is to catalyze Integrated Water Resource Management in the Laguna de Bay Region,
showcasing the symbiosis of man and nature for sustainability, with focus on preserving ecological
integrity and promoting economic growth with equitable access to resources.

While water levels in Angat and La Mesa reservoirs remain at alert level, Laguna de Bay boasts of
its abundant water that is now tapped by Maynilad Water Services, Inc. to supply the water needs of
the communities in Muntinlupa, Las Pinas and nearby areas.

The LLDA, as early as August 7, 2009, approved the water permit application of Maynilad to allow
the West Zone concessionaire to abstract 100 million liters per day of lake water to be made
available for domestic consumption. Maynilad started the production of 50 MLD last June 2010 and
expects to produce 100 MLD in September this year using surface raw water from Laguna de Bay. [3]

Programs[edit]
Environmental User's Fee[4]

Shoreland Management

Implementation of the Zoning and Management Plan (ZOMAP)

River Rehabilitation

The Environmental User Fee System[edit]

To realize the objectives of the creation of LLDA, the agency implemented policies to curb the
possibility of stressing the lakes assimilative capacity. The most recent policy was the Environmental
User Fee System (EUFS). The EUFS was implemented by virtue of LLDA Board Resolution 22 in
1996. The objective of the policy was to (reduce) the pollution loading in to the Laguna de Bay by
enjoining all discharges of liquid wastes to internalize the cost of environmental degradation.
Formally, the said board resolution aptly defined the EUFS as a marketbased policy instrument
aimed at reducing the pollution loading in the lake. As such, companies found to have unusually high
concentration of pollutants in their emissions, need to pay fines or lake userfees.

The system encourages companies to invest in and operate pollution prevention and/or abatement
systems in their establishment. Applying the "polluter pays principle", the system effects direct
accountability for damage inflicted on the integrity of the Laguna de Bay region thereby encouraging
individuals and business establishments to internalize into their decision-making process the
environmental impacts of their day-to-day activities. The EUFS covers all enterprises in the
administrative jurisdiction of LLDA that discharge wastewater in the Laguna de Bay system. These
include commercial and industrial establishments; agro-based industries and establishments (such
as swine farms and slaughterhouses); clustered dwellings (i.e., residential subdivisions); and
domestic households[5]

Under the EUFS, a firm is required to secure a discharge permit which is renewed annually at the
LLDA. The discharge permit effectively allows the firm to discharge its wastewater to the lake or
through its main tributaries. The discharge permit gives the establishment a legal right to dispose
their waste water in the Laguna de Bay region. Wastewater is basically sewage, storm water, and
water used around the community, including firms.

Domestic wastewater includes black water, or wastewater from toilets, and gray water, which is
wastewater from all sources except toilets. Black water and gray water have different characteristics,
but both contain pollutants and disease-causing agents that require monitoring. Nondomestic
wastewater is generated by offices, businesses, department stores, restaurants, schools, hospitals,
farms, manufacturers, and other commercial, industrial, and institutional entities. Storm water is a
nonresidential source and carries trash and other pollutants from streets, as well as pesticides and
fertilizers from yards and fields.[6]

The EUF is paid for the amount of pollution that is discharged into the tributary rivers in the Laguna
de Bay region. It is composed of a fixed fee and a variable fee. The fixed fee covers the
administrative cost implementing the Environmental Users Fee System and is based on the volume
of wastewater that is discharged.

According to LLDA Board Resolution 33, as amended, the fixed fee is different for those firms that
discharge wastewater without or with heavy metals.

Wastewater without heavy metals:

Fee Volume of Wastewater Discharge

PhP 24,000 More than 150 m3 per day

PhP 16,000 Between 30 and 150 m3 per day

PhP 8,000 Less than 30 m3 per day

Wastewater with heavy metals:

Fee Volume of Wastewater Discharge

PhP 12,000 Less than 150 m3 per day

PhP 24,000 More than 150 m3 per day

The fixed fee also depends on the volume of wastewater discharged. For a firm that discharges
wastewater without heavy metals, the fee is PhP 24,000 if the discharge is more than 150 m 3 per
day, PhP 16,000 if the discharge is between 30 and 150 m3 per day, and PhP 8,000 if the discharge
volume is less than 30 m3 per day. Those firms that discharge wastewater with heavy metals pay
higher fixed fees. The fee is PhP 12,000 for a firm that discharge less than 150 m 3 of wastewater
with heavy metals per day and PhP 24,000 if the discharge is more than 150 m 3 per day.

The variable fee is calculated with the reference to the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) loading
as well as to the volume and concentration of the wastewater being discharged. According to the
same policy, the variable fees is PhP 30 per kilogram of total BOD5 when the BOD5 concentration is
less than 50 milligrams per liter and PhP 30 per kilogram of total BOD5 when the BOD5 concentration
is greater than 50 milligrams per liter.