List of caves in CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region)
The following is a partial list of caves in CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region).
List
Name | Province | City/municipality |
---|---|---|
Abbot Cave | Apayao | Luna |
Abiang Burial Caves | Benguet | Atok |
Agapang Cave | Abra | Licuan-Baay |
Aguibay Cave | Apayao | Kabugao |
Allabang Cave | Apayao | Calanasan |
Anganupang Cave | Apayao | Kabugao |
Angib Cave | Abra | San Juan |
Angoten Cave | Mountain Province | Sadanga |
Ansagan Cave | Benguet | Tuba |
Aran/Tukang Cave | Benguet | Tuba |
Bacala Caves | Benguet | Buguias |
Bakun Burial Cave | Benguet | Bakun |
Balabag-Mummy Cave | Benguet | Kapangan |
Balangagan Cave | Mountain Province | Sagada |
Barbarit Caves | Abra | Luba |
Begbeg Burial Cave | Benguet | La Trinidad |
Bellang Cave | Apayao | Conner |
Bengag Cave | Benguet | Tuba |
Bengaongao Cave | Benguet | Tublay |
Bintacan/Bintakan Cave | Ifugao | Lagawe |
Bodiweng Caves | Benguet | La Trinidad |
Bolingaongao Cave | Benguet | Kapangan |
Bolinsak/Bulalakao Cave | Benguet | Kapangan |
Buaya Caves | Kalinga | Balbalan |
Bungis Cave | Benguet | Tublay |
Cabuyao Burial Cave | Benguet | Tuba |
Calao Cave | Abra | Bucay |
Crystal Cave | Abra | Bucay |
Crystal Caves | Abra | Lagangilang |
Daguay Burial Cave | Benguet | Buguias |
Dangwa Cave | Benguet | Kapangan |
Deccan Burial Cave | Benguet | Kibungan |
Dinog Cave | Benguet | La Trinidad |
Dinugdugan Cave | Kalinga | Balbalan |
Dukligaw Cave | Apayao | Kabugao |
Duwag Cave | Benguet | Tuba |
Ganangan Burial Cave | Benguet | Buguias |
Ganga Cave | Mountain Province | Bontoc |
Ganga-an Burial Cave | Benguet | Kibungan |
Ganuway/Ganway Cave | Abra | PeƱarrubia |
Gawaan Cave | Kalinga | Balbalan |
Idaw Cave | Benguet | Tuba |
Jessie Cave | Apayao | Kabugao |
Kadutan Cave | Benguet | La Trinidad |
Kaliwaga Cave | Benguet | Kapangan |
Kansel Cave | Mountain Province | Sadanga |
Kasaniyan-Pingeo Cave | Abra | |
Kaungugan Cave | Abra | Luba |
Ketong Cave | Benguet | Tublay |
Kimampana Cave | Abra | Lagayan |
Kimmatre Cave | Abra | Lagayan |
Kulong Cave | Benguet | La Trinidad |
Lat-oy Cave | Abra | |
Layaan Burial Cave | Mountain Province | Bauko |
Lebhong Burial Cave | Ifugao | Lagawe |
Libtec/Quiling Crystal Cave | Abra | Dolores |
Littalitan Cave | Kalinga | Balbalan |
Liyang Calatan Burial Cave | Benguet | Buguias |
Loko-ong Crystal Cave | Mountain Province | Sagada |
Lolongan Cave | Benguet | Tuba |
Longog Cave | Benguet | Kapangan |
Lussok Cave | Apayao | Luna |
Maanus Cave | Kalinga | Balbalan |
Magangab Cave | Kalinga | Balbalan |
Magtuon Cave | Kalinga | Balbalan |
Manacota Cave | Apayao | Luna |
Nagaparan Cave | Abra | Danglas |
Nah-toban Cave | Ifugao | Lagawe |
Nalvo and Seven Caves | Apayao | Luna |
Obbong-obbong Cave | Benguet | Tuba |
Olineg Cave | Benguet | Bakun |
Opdas Burial Cave | Benguet | Kabayan |
Pangaggawan Cave | Ifugao | Kiangan |
Paterno Cave | Benguet | Tublay |
Pedak Burial Cave | Benguet | La Trinidad |
Pegpeg Burial Cave | Benguet | Buguias |
Perel Cave | Benguet | Sablan |
Pipingew Cave | Benguet | La Trinidad |
Pita Cave | Abra | Bangued |
Punsian Cave | Apayao | Luna |
Purag Cave | Apayao | Kabugao |
Purit Cave | Apayao | Calanasan |
Rizalista Cave | Abra | Lagangilang |
Santo Tomas Cave | Abra | Manabo |
Shogen Burial Cave | Benguet | Buguias |
Sibud-Sibud Cave | Abra | Tineg |
Simembaan Cave | Abra | Lagayan |
Simimba-an Cave | Benguet | Tuba |
Sugong Cave | Mountain Province | Sagada |
Sumaging Cave | Mountain Province | Sagada |
Tabong Cave | Abra | Danglas |
Tael Cave | Benguet | Bokod |
Takadang Cave | Benguet | Tuba |
Talangan Burial Cave | Benguet | Buguias |
Tanubong Cave | Abra | |
Taripan Cave | Abra | |
Tawang Cave | Kalinga | Balbalan |
Teytey Cave | Benguet | Tublay |
Tiking Agindang Cave | Benguet | Buguias |
Timbac Burial Cave | Benguet | Kabayan |
Tinedkaw Cave | Benguet | La Trinidad |
Tinongchol Burial Cave | Benguet | Kabayan |
Utah Cave | Kalinga | Balbalan |
Wagitgit Cave | Benguet | Tuba |
Safeguarding Philippine Caves
The Philippines is abundantly blessed with an unlimited supply of caves, many of which are still unknown and waiting to be discovered. These caves and all materials and everything else that are naturally inside belong to the country and, as declared in Republic Act 9072, constitute part of its natural wealth. It is no wonder then that national agencies like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the National Museum, the National Historical Institute, and concerned Local Government Units (LGUs) are joining hands to ensure that caves and cave resources are properly managed, protected and conserved. The national government agencies through the National/Regional Cave Committees have been identifying, documenting, assessing, and classifying caves around the country with the final goal of planning for the proper management, protection and conservation of these caves/cave resources. The three classifications of Philippine caves assessed by the government are:
- Class I Caves – caves with delicate and fragile geological formations, threatened species, cultural, archaeological and paleontological values, and with extremely hazardous conditions. Allowable activity is limited to exploration, mapping, photography, educational and scientific purposes.
- Class II Caves – caves with areas or portions which have hazardous conditions. Contain sensitive geological, archaeological, cultural, historical, and biological values or high quality ecosystem. It may be necessary to close sections of these caves seasonally or permanently. It is open to experienced cavers or guided educational tours/visits.
- Class III Caves – caves generally safe to inexperienced visitors. With no known threatened species and archaeological, geological, national history, cultural and historical values. May also be utilized for economic purposes such as guano extraction and edible birds nest collection.
The National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act, otherwise known as Republic Act No. 9072, enumerates the actions relative to caves which are unlawful and punishable by law, to wit:
- Knowingly destroying, disturbing, defacing, marring, altering, removing or harming the speleogen or speleothem of any cave or altering the free movement of any animal or plant life into or out of any cave.
- Gathering, collecting, possessing, consuming, selling, bartering, or exchanging or offering for sale without authority any cave resource; and
- Counselling, procuring, soliciting, or employing any other person to violate any provisions of Section 7 (Prohibited Acts) of Republic Act No. 9072.
The punishment for violating this law is imprisonment for 2 to 6 years or a fine of PhP20,000 to 500,000, or both, at the discretion of the Court. The person who provided the funds for the punishable acts is to be imprisoned for 6 years and one day to 8 years, or fined from Php500,000 to 1 million pesos, or both, at the discretion of the Court.
The law is unmistakably geared towards the protection of caves from thieves, vandals, as well as inconsiderate, irresponsible, or careless cave sightseers. If the cave is an Ecotourism destination or in a Protected Area, then it becomes more mandatory for the visitor to hire only licensed ecoguides or accredited cave guides. For their own protection and for the protection of these caves as well, excursionists wanting to visit a cave are made to register, pay certain fees,and undergo some briefing and orientation about the site, the wildlife, the local community, the needed gear, and the do's and dont's of caving.
Remember, too, that only Class III caves and certain parts of Class II caves may be available for ecotourism.
Sources
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Biodiversity Management Bureau (bmb.gov.ph)
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Bureau (emb.gov.ph)
- Philippine Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
- Department of the Interior and Local Government (dilg.gov.ph)
- Official websites of Philippine provinces, cities, and municipalities
- Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines (officialgazette.gov.ph)
- Republic Act No. 9072; An Act to Manage and Protect Caves and Cave Resources and for Other Purposes
- Agayatin, Maritess V. Cave-Related Policies and Status of Cave Management in the Philippines (pdf). Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) - Caves, Wetlands, and other Ecosystems Division. 2018.