Tagbilaran City—Bohol has a collection of 10 geosites in its bid to be declared as Global Geopark by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Dr. Patrick Kames McKeever, secretary of the International Geosciences and Geoparks Program of Unesco, will be coming here on July 23-27 to evaluate these sites.
The Unesco National Commission of the Philippines (UNACOM or PH NatCom) and the University of the Philippines’ School of Urban and Regional Planning (UP-SURP) are grooming Bohol to be declared by Unesco as a Global Geopark.
A series of meetings, capacity building and cite evaluations had already been conducted in line with this.
If Unesco gives its nod, Bohol will then be the first Global Geopark in the country.
The Unesco representative who will come in late July is also the chief of the Earth Sciences and Geo-hazards Risk Reduction Section of the Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences of the Natural Sciences Sector of Unesco.
Gov. Edgar Chatto and PH NatCom Development Management Officer/Program Officer for Science and Technology Freddie Blanco have invited McKeever “to visit Bohol to conduct an assessment of its potential and discuss or meet with the local stakeholders.”
This is in line with the intention of PH NatCom and UP-SURP to nominate Bohol as the first UNESCO Global Geopark from the Philippines.
In a letter dated June 28, 2018 sent to McKeever through UNACOM Deputy Executive Director II Lindsay A. Barrientos, Chatto expressed the provincial government’s intention to establish Bohol as the first Global Geopark in the Philippines.
Chatto introduced the Province of Bohol as the 10th largest island in the Philippines located in Central Visayas with a population of 1.3 million and “is richly endowed with geological, archaeological, biological and cultural assets which we believe are important ingredients of a geopark.”
The 10 proposed geosites in Bohol that UP-SURP, UNACOM, and the provincial government have listed include the Alicia Schist in Lamanoc Island in Anda, Philippine Tarsier (Carlito syrichta) and Wildlife Sanctuary in Corella, Chocolate Hills in Carmen, Uplifted Marine Terraces in Maribojoc and Loon, Hinagdanan Cave in Dauis, Balicasag Marine Sanctuary, Baclayon Church, Loboc Church Ruins, and the newly-restored Dauis Church.
In his letter, Chatto described Alicia Schist as an elongated body of foliated rocks located in the municipality of Alicia believed to be late Jurassic to early Cretaceous in age, making it the “Oldest Rocks” in the province.
Lamanoc Island in Anda is “one of the hidden gems of Bohol for its unspoiled forest, intriguing caves, and fascinating overhanging rocks that sometimes make the islet appears to magically hover above the blue sea.”
Chatto further described that “this limestone formation is witness to the local community’s rich cultural history evident in numerous burial caves and present-day ritual sacred place for local imams.”
The Tarsier Sanctuary, on the other hand, is “the home of the endangered smallest primate in the world,” the governor also stated in the letter.
“Its main thrust is to provide and support the conservation and preservation of habitat, promotion of ecotourism, as well as, environmental awareness and provide a research program for national and international primatologists,” added Chatto about the Tarsier Sanctuary.
The Chocolate Hills in Carmen has been described as “one of the most unique Cone-Karst landscapes in the world formed approximately one to five million years ago.”
“Its unique morphology is a reflection of the islands’ complex structural and tectonic history. Aside from its unique morphology, it is also popularly known for its marvelous brown chocolate color during the summer months,” Chatto described the Chocolate Hills in Carmen.
The Uplifted Marine Terraces in Maribojoc and Loon is “a unique geological feature which was created during the 7.2 magnitude Great Bohol Earthquake in 2013”.
“The event has resulted in one spectacular display of forces of nature – the uplift of an extensive marine platform along the coastal areas of Maribojoc and Loon municipalities. Known as the ‘Loon-Maribojoc Geological Monument’ the uplifted coastal area covers some 137 hectares or 1.37 square kilometers of coastline stretching eight kilometers,” Chatto also described the uplifted marine terraces.
The Hinagdanan Cave in Dauis, according to Chatto, “is naturally made of limestone, a lighted cavern with a deep lagoon and about 100 meters long of beautiful rock formations presented by large stalactites and stalagmites.
Baclayon Church, founded by the Jesuit priests in 1596, is the oldest Christian settlement in Bohol and the second oldest church in the Philippines.
It was partially damaged by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake on October 15, 2013 but was fully restored the following years with the efforts of the provincial government and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
The Loboc Church, which was also damaged by the 7.2-magnitude tremor, is the second Christian settlement in Bohol as it was established by the Jesuits in 1602. The present coral stone church was completed in 1734.
It is classified as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines.
The newly-restored Dauis Church is one of the old churches in Bohol and a fine representation of Byzantine-Romanesque architecture. It was founded by Jesuit fathers Diego de Ayala and Joseph Gregorio.
Its construction was conducted by Father Julio Saldana in 1863 and was completed in the early 1920’s. It was partially damaged by the devastating 2013 earthquake but was fully restored in 2017.
Having these 10 proposed geosites, the provincial government hopes McKeever’s assessment of them would eventually merit the approval of UNESCO to make Bohol a part of the Global Geoparks Networks in the Asia-Pacific and the world, Chatto said. (PNA)
