EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS |
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No. 434
EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Cagayan de Oro River or simply called the “Cagayan River” by the Kagay-
anons, transects through the city of Cagayan de Oro. Its headwaters are located in North
Cotabato, hundreds of kilometers away from the city. It has tributaries from the province of
Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur — al joining to form one great body of water that wounds its
‘way to the city’s Macabalan Bay.

Aside from the river's tributaries, there are many small streams and waterfalls along
its course. The vast land areas on both sides of the Cagayan de Oro River are composed of
hills, valleys, river terraces, caves, limestone cliffs, islets and forests. These areas hold rich
potential archeological materials that have yet to be uncovered and are the keys to unlocking
the mystery of the ancient Kagay-anons that once lived along the river.

This river and its environs combined to form a spectacular landscape. It is important
that steps will be taken for its conservation and protection for the future generations of
Kagay-anons.

A Heritage Cultural River

The Cagayan de Oro River is a prime cultural resource of the City of Cagayan de
ro. Since time immemorial, the river's life giving waters has nourished and sustained the
people that lived along its banks. Through the centuries, this river has helped developed
even the intangible compounds of the people aside from the tangible identity in a natural
environment.

Topography

Cagayan de Oro City is characterized by a narrow coastal plain along the Macabalan
Bay and by highland areas separated by steeply inclined escarpments. The lowland is
relatively flat with an elevation of less than ten meters above the main sea level. Highlands
bound the City in the south from east to west. These consist of plateaus, terraces, hills,
mountains, canyons and gorges. Creeks and rivers traverse and bound the city and drain to
Macabalan Bay. There are seven rivers of the City — Iponan River, Biga-an River, Umalag
River, Agusan River, Alae River and the main river which is the longest that transects and
serves as the political division of the city, the Cagayan de Oro River. The river's headwaters
are located in Pikit, North Cotabato and there are numerous tributaries from the adjoining
provinces of Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur (Cagayan de Oro River Masterplan, 1998),

Archaeological Value

Cagayan de Oro City plays a vital role in the history of Misamis Oriental Province and
in the archaeology of the Philippines in general (Neri 2004; Bautista, 1992). People were
already living in this land that is located in the northern coast of Mindanao long before the
coming of Islam and of the Spaniards.


The early Recollect missionaries arrived in Cagayan de Oro in 1622 particularly in a
settlement called the Himologan fortress. According to accounts, Himologan was situated in
the interior part of Cagayan southward from the main delta of the Cagayan River (Demetrio,
1995). The present area of Cagayan de Oro City is considered as the second settlement. It
was chosen by the Recollect missionaries in 1622 for Datu Salansang, the chief of the
Cagaiang (Cagayan) territory and his people because of an abundant water supply and its
ideal location. This new settlement by the river estuary was then known as Cagaiang (Lao,
1995).

The ancient people of Cagayan de Oro lived along the river. Since 1970, there have
been several archaeological explorations and excavations done by several teams of
archaeologists in areas near the river. Foremost of these sites is the controversial Huluga
Complex which is composed of an Open Site (National Museum Code X-91-Q) and cave
sites (National Museum Code X-91-R). The sites are situated in the eastern bank of the
Cagayan River which is 8.5 km. south of the poblacion area. Four teams have conducted
‘explorations and excavations in Huluga.

The fourth team was composed of archaeologists from the National Museum and
from the Archaeological Studies Program of the University of the Philippines did an intensive
archaeological explorations and excavations in several sites along the banks of Cagayan
River in October and November 2004. A total of 2,720 artifacts were recovered from the
sites.

In their findings (Neri, et. al. 2007), the team reported that there is a high potential
for very ancient human presence along the river, may be even older than 50,000 years ago
based on the surface finds of andesite stone tools. That there was a group of people that
lived within the present city that practical secondary jar burial around 1,500 years ago or
more. Fragments of burial jars and sacks of human bones were found on a rock shelter.
There were habitation areas in the open, next to the river and that the people there used
obsidian for tools. Later, the people exchanged goods for tradeware ceramics from Mainland
Asia. At the time of arrival of the Spaniards, there was already one thriving population center
along the Cagayan River.

The archaeological findings helped established the archaeological significance of the
areas along the Cagayan River. It clearly shows that the ancient Kagay-anons settled along
the riverbanks as far back as 50,000 years or more.

Historical Value

In Bayanga, a riverside barangay of Cagayan de Oro is a National Historical Institute
marker that commemorates the June 4, 1900 Battle of Macahambus Hill. The Kagay-anons
who had a small fort on a hill along the Cagayan River, defeated and killed several American
soldiers that tried several times to seize it. This historic battled marked the first Filipino
victory in the entire Philippine-American War in this country. The Battle of Macahambus Hill
preceded the Battle of Pulang Lupa in Marinduque and the Balangiga Massacre of Samar.

Cultural Value

Humans generally modify the landscapes in which they live. They attach names,
myths and affective value to the features of the territory they inhabit (Newcombe, 1979).

‘The name "Cagayan" is taken from a proto — Austronesian word, “Carayan’ which
means river. The town started as a riverine settlement that was the same as the other
prehispanic villages around the country. Local literature is replete with many enchanting
tales, legends and myths of the Kagay-anons and their river. The legend of Cagayan de Oro


is prehispanic tale about the original inhabitants of the city that lived by the great river. The
myth about the giant gold fish called the Oro fish that lives under the river persists to this day
(Demetrio, F. 1975). The great Manobo epic “Ulangingen” that is usually chanted for three
nights included Cagayan river as part of the journey of the Manobos who were in search for
the gift of immortality. All these show the deep affinity of the Kagay-anon to his river.

Ecological Value

The areas along the Cagayan River consist of a city forest zone that is over 2,500
hectares. There are also a network of caves, wetlands, flatlands, hills, valleys, limestone
cliffs, terraces, streams, waterfalls and river islets. The high biodiversity of the river and the
land ranged from different varieties of habitats, rich flora and fauna that included rare
species of reptiles and tarsiers.

The fishes of the river are part of the staple diet of the people like the hipon or goby
(sicyopterus, extraneous, chonopous ocellaries), balanak (castraeus goldiei) dalapakan
(thyacichtys aspro) valamugel shehii), kasili (ophisternon Bengalese) and the prized catch of
the river, the pigok (mesopristes cansellatus).

The river system provides a natural drainage system. It has its own watershed area
from which runoff finds its way to the bay. The presence of many wetlands helped serve as
impoundment basins in case of river outflows (Cagayan de Oro River Masterplan. 1998).

Economic Value

The Cagayan River is now known as the ‘Whitewater Rafting Capital of the
Philippines.” It is an important destination for adventure tourism where aside from whitewater
rafting, tubing and kayaking, tourists can go rappelling in the limestone cliffs, explore the
numerous caves or do canopy walk and zip lining or take nature treks in the forest zone,

These tourism activities have provided jobs and sources of livelihood for many
people who live along the City’s riverside barangays. The Cagayan River is indeed the top
tourist attraction of the city not only for the water and adventure sports that it provides but
also for the pristine natural beauty of the land around it. It continues to give the biggest
tourism revenues to the City Government.

Conclusion

The Cagayan de Oro River is culturally significant in terms of historical,
archaeological, cultural, ecological and economic values. This is the only class A city river in
the Philippines that remains unpolluted and continually draws in tourists all year round.

Archaeologically, it has been established that the early Kagay-anon lived along the
banks of the river 50,000 years ago or more, used obsidian for tools and practiced
secondary jar burials. Historically, there is the prestigious National Historical Institute marker
located in Barangay Bayanga that commemorates the Battle of Macahambus Hilll which took
place besides the Cagayan River. It is considered the first Filipino victory in the Philippine —
‘American War in the entire country. Ecologically, a rich ecosystem with a variety of habitats
and high biodiversity is found both in the river and the surrounding lands. Culturally, the
many legends, myths and tales about the Cagayan River show the deep affinity of the
Kagay-anon to his river. Today, the Cagayan de Oro River is the number one source of
tourism revenues of the City Government. Many people have reaped economic benefits
through the various eco-tourism activities from it.


It is therefore important that the Cagayan de Oro River be declared officially as a
Heritage Cultural River by an Act of Congress so it can be protected from the threats of
pollution, industrialization and other environmentally destructive activities of man. It is also
equally important that the areas near the river be declared as protected heritage zones in
order to help preserve the several historical and archaeological sites and ecosystem of the
land. The Cagayan de Oro River has all the significant cultural values worthy of an extensive
natural heritage conservation program that will promote awareness and set guidelines to
protect the river and its environs. By this, the future generations of Kagay-anons are ensured
that their river will continue to sustain and enriched their lives just as it did to their ancestors
thousands of years ago.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

434

House Bill No.

AN ACT
DECLARING CAGAYAN DE ORO RIVER AS A CULTURAL HERITAGE ZONE

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Cagayan de Oro River Cultural Heritage Act’.

SEC. 2. There is need to protect, preserve, conserve and promote the nation’s cultural
heritage and history and the ethnicity of local communities.

SEC. 3. For purposes of this Act, the term “cultural heritage zone” shall refer to historical,
anthropological, archeological, artistic and geographical areas and settings that are culturally
significant to the country, the context of which need to be preserved.

SEC. 4. The Cagayan de Oro River is hereby declared a cultural heritage zone. The
Cagayan de Oro River is culturally significant in terms of historical, archaeological, cultural,
ecological and economic values. This is the only class-A city river in the Philippines that
remains unpolluted and continually draws in tourists all year round. Archaeologically, it has
been established that the early Kagay-anon lived along the banks of the river 50,000 years
ago or more, used obsidian for tools and practiced secondary jar burials. Historically, there is
the prestigious National Historical Institute marker located in Barangay Bayanga that
commemorates the Battle of Macahambus Hill which took place besides the Cagayan River.
Itis considered the first Filipino victory in the Philippine - American War in the entire country.
Ecologically, a rich ecosystem with a variety of habitats and high biodiversity is found both in
the river and the surrounding lands. Culturally, the many legends, myths and tales about the
Cagayan River show the deep affinity of the Kagay-anon to his river. Today, the Cagayan de
Oto River is the number one source of tourism revenues of the City Government. Many
people have reaped economic benefits through the various eco-tourism activities from it.

As such, it shall be accorded priority development by the Department of Tourism
(007) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in coordination
with the concemed agencies of govemment, and shall be subject to the rules and
regulations governing the conservation and preservation of cultural heritage zones.

SEC. 5. Any activity that will pollute, destroy or otherwise adversely affect the archeological,
historical, cultural, ecological and economic value of the Cagayan de Oro River, its river
banks and areas near it is hereby prohibited.

SEC. 6. Any person or entity which shall cause destruction to the archeological, historical,
cultural, ecological and economic value of the Cagayan de Oro River, its river banks and
areas near it shall suffer a fine of not less than P100,000.00 and not more than
P5,000,000.00 and imprisonment of 1 to 5 years.

SEC. 7. The DOT, in coordination with the Philippine Tourism Authority, the DENR, the City
Government of Cagayan de Oro, and other government agencies concemed, shall prepare
the development plan involving the preservation, conservation, restoration and/or
maintenance of such appropriate facilities which shall enhance tourism in the area: Provided,
That said development plan shall ensure the preservation and maintenance of Cagayan de


Oro River free from threats of pollution, industrialization and other environmentally
destructive activities of man.

SEC. 8. The DOT and the DENR shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for
the proper implementation of this Act.

SEC. 9. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,