Construction workers in Dansolihon, Cagayan de Oro City discovered a cave last July 15, prompting calls from Filipinos to protect the area’s natural resources from human interference. In a Facebook post on Friday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Northern Mindanao reported that the cave was discovered during a road construction in Sta. Cruz, Barangay Dansolihon.
DENR 10 regional executive director Henry Adornado assembled a team, composed of DENR- City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Initao and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office of Misamis Oriental, to confirm the cave discovery and evaluate the site. The agency said that the DENR-CENRO Initao and PENRO Misamis Oriental likewise coordinated with the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office of Cagayan de Oro and the Barangay Local Government Unit of Dansolihon to form a composite team who will assess the cave. During their visit, the team documented all flora and fauna as well as rock formations found inside and outside of the cave.
These were captured for the possible creation of a vicinity map. Aside from these, the team found stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, bacon, cave curtains, and helictites as well as flowing water in the cave. After their assessment, the DENR said that the team found that some parts of the cave were affected by the construction.
Furthermore, various rock formations and speleothems were destroyed. They then recommended another.