Councilor Temujin Ocampo reiterated that recreational activities are prohibited in protected areas, especially the watershed, following an incident on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 14, where a surge of water trapped 19 people at the Mini Asik-asik Falls. The Watershed Code and other legislations regulate the entry of the public in these areas, and activities for study purposes can only be conducted through coordination with the barangays and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Ocampo emphasized that people cannot simply roam or swim in the area, citing the risks of natural hazards such as rock falls, landslides, or flooding, especially during heavy rainfall. The area has been classified as highly susceptible to landslides by the Mines Geosciences Bureau XI. Ocampo called on local officials to assign village watchmen to prevent people from entering the protected areas, as existing ordinances, including the Watershed Code and the Panigan-Tamugan Ordinance, are in place to prohibit such activities.
