By: Genalyn D. Kabiling
President Duterte is pushing the sustainable development of Lake Lanao to help meet the country’s food requirements once the rebel siege in Marawi City is over.
The President said the vast lake, located in Lanao del Sur, could provide the nation with fresh fish supply to promote the public’s good health.
Lanao Lake is the second largest lake in the country with an estimated area of 32,000 hectares next to the Laguna de Bay.
“‘Yang Lake Lanao na ‘yan sa Marawi, properly developed and utilized, would feed the nation. Napakaganda niyan,” the President said during an agribusiness expo in Pasay City last Thursday.
“Someday, kung matapos na ‘to, you should find time to visit Marawi. Tingnan mo ‘yung Lake Lanao. It’s a huge body of water and kung tignan mo lang, the many things that you can do, aquatics whatever,” he said.
Duterte believes that Filipinos could be healthier since they would be eating fish and vegetables from Lake Lanao.
“Pwede na tayong mabusog. Wala pa masyadong mamatay sa hypertension kasi isda. At ang gulay, marami rin doon,” he said.
The President, however, acknowledged there are still lingering security threats such as terrorism and extortion by communist rebels in the area.