19/02/2026
๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฆ๐ข ๐๐ข๐ง ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ: ๐ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ โ ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐๐ & ๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐จ๐
For generations, Mapaso Hot Springs has been part of everyday life in Barangay Monbon โ a place for bathing, rest, wellness, community bonding, and religious and spiritual practices, open to residents and visitors alike.
Recently, access to the site was blocked due to privatization. While property rights deserve respect, Philippine law also recognizes that some natural places carry cultural value that goes beyond ownership.
๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐จ:
โข RA 10066 (National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009), as strengthened by RA 11961, recognizes natural properties of cultural significance โ natural sites that communities have used and valued over generations
โข These laws emphasize documentation, protection, consultation, and appropriate public access, even where private claims exist
โข LGUs are mandated under the Local Government Code to protect cultural heritage, promote general welfare, and support sustainable tourism
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฝ๐๐๐ฒ.
It is a question of how we:
โ
๏ธProtect a natural site with long-standing cultural and social value
โ
๏ธBalance private rights with public interest and heritage protection
โ
๏ธPromote conservation, not uncontrolled exploitation
โ
๏ธEnsure decisions are made with community participation
๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ข๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐๐จ ๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ง:
โข ๐๐๐๐ค๐๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ค ๐๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐จ ๐๐จ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐๐ก ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ช๐ก๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐๐ก ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ข๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐จ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐
โข ๐๐๐๐จ๐ค๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐, ๐ง๐๐๐ช๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ช๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐จ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฃ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ
โข ๐ฟ๐๐๐ก๐ค๐๐ช๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ, ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ
โข ๐ผ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ข๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ-๐๐๐จ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐จ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ๐จ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ๐๐ง๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฎ
This is about heritage, environmental care, and social justice working together โ not against development, but for development that respects people, culture, and nature.
We call on LGU-Irosin led by Mayor Grace Hamor, concerned agencies, and the public to engage constructively and help find a lawful, fair, and sustainable solution for the issues surrounding the privatization of Mapaso Hot Springs.
References:
https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2023/ra_11961_2023.html
https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2010/ra_10066_2010.html
๐ธ If you have photos, stories, or fond memories of Mapaso Hot Springs, please share them. If you share our message and care for Mapaso hot springs and the residents of Barangay Monbon, kindly share this post. Community history matters.
Paawason ta an tubi san ato pangapudan hanggang makaabot sa may mga katungdan. ๐
