CAVE ASSESSMENT FORM

Name of cave: Crystal Cave

Region : Central Visayas, Region 7 Province : Negros Oriental
Municipality : Mabinay Barangay : Bulwang
Date of Assessment : September 2-5, 2009

I. General Information

1. Evolution of the cave (include cave’s origin, solution, tectonic movement, etc.
The Municipality of Mabinay is known as the Cave capital of Negros Oriental,
due to its number of cave formation. The said municipality is geologically a
karstic area, where it is characterized by sinks, ravines, caverns and underground
streams/rivers. Usually caves are formed through natural process by a long period
of seeping and percolating of water from rainfall and river/creek into karstic
ground.

2. Geographic location and description

Coordinates 09 39’ 64. 5N / 122 58’ 96.7E Elevation 261 M

Physiography Karst
3. Land Status
______ A&D ______Unclassified Public forest
__x___Timberland ______Private
______ Others (specify) Reforestation area

4. Accessibility

The site is within Barangay Bulwang and can be reached by all type of vehicles.
It is located about 74 kilometers from Dumaguete, the capital city, which is
approximately a 3 hour drive. From the Cave Center Building where the
transportation access road end, approximately a 15 meters walk to the entrance of
the cave. Poblacion Mabinay is just 15 kilometers ahead from the site.

5. Climatology data

The Municipality of Mabinay is within the third climate type, wherein seasons not
very pronounced; relatively dry from November to April and wet during the rest
of the year. The maximum rain periods are not very pronounced with the short dry
season lasting only from one to three months. The area is only partly sheltered
from the northers and trade winds and open to the southeast monsoon or at least
for frequent cyclonic storms. Rainfall recorded during rainy season
measured/reached 56.27 inches while only two inches during dry season.
6. Existing land- use pattern in the area adjacent to the cave.

The area is mostly reforested area and only patches of agricultural land.
LISTING BY TYPE AREA (HA)

Reforestation area 127.02 has.

Reservation area
Agricultural 423.70 has

Grazing/Pasture area
Settlements/residential
Most houses are build along
national highway and only a
few are located inside the
forested area.

7. Demographic information
NAME OF NUMBER OF BARANGAY MEANS OF
BARANGAY HOUSEHOLD POPULATION LIVELIHOOD
Bulwang 419 2,342 Farming, gov’t.
employee, private
employee, charcoal
making and timber
poaching.

8. Current Uses/ Human Activities

Type of Activity Dura- Area Implementing Remarks

tion covered Agencies/Orgs

Scientific 88.5 m DENR Cave

distance Assessment

Educational 88.5 m LGU Mabinay Field trips

Resources None
Extraction
Tourists/Recreation 88.5 m LGU Mabinay Site seeing

Archaeology None

Others
None
 9. Physical Features

1. Documents Attached
A. Crystal Cave Map
B. Pictures

b.1 ( ) Pristine Cave (virgin or newly discovered cave ; immensely

decorated)
b. 2 (x) Intact(state what probably factors could have worked
for their protection)
______ difficult access
______ within the protected area
______ inside private property
b.3 ( ) vandalized ( state extent, location of vandalism; describe
Vandalism)
b.4 ( ) exploited (State cause and extent of exploitation)
b.5 ( ) Claimant: (State name)
b.6 ( ) other (specify) within reforestation area.
- LGU Mabinay presently used the cave for ECO Tourism
purposes.
II. NATURAL FEATURES

1. Vegetation Cover

1.1 Flora outside the cave

Local /common Scientific Name Uses Importance/Value

Name
Gmelina/Yemane Gmelina
arborea Lumber Construction, furniture

Teak Tectona grandis lumber Construction, furniture

Balete Tree Landscaping

Rain tree/Acasia Samanea saman Tree Shade, furniture

lumber
Bayog fruit Bird’s food

Lombang Seed Oil

Ipil Insea bibyoga lumber Construction, fuelwood

Bangcoro Leaves Medicine

 seeds
Ampion/Pink shower Fruit Medicine

Sambolawan/Amugis Lumber Construction, furniture

Mango Mangifera Fruit Food, furniture

indica lumber
1.2 Flora inside the cave

Local/common Name Scientific Name Uses Important Value

None
2. Fauna
2.1 Fauna found inside the cave

Cave zone
Organism Local Name Scientific Common Number T D Threatened
Name Name species
Troglophile Glow worm 3

Trogloxene Camel cricket 8 8

Trogloxene Cave spider 3 2 1

Troglophile Pselido 4 4
scorpions
Troglophile Termites colony 1

Troglophile Kabog Rhinolopus Bats 7 7

philippinenis
Trogloxene Sayaw Colocalia Glossy 6 6
esculenta swiflet

Trogloxene Cave frog 1 1

Total 31

There were 31 fauna species found inside the cave that was observe during the time of
inspection.
 2.2 Fauna found outside of the cave

Local/common Scientific Name Conservation Conservation

Name Status Resident Endemic Migratory Remarks
Olived-backed Nectarinia OWS X
sunbird Jugularis
Red-keeled Dicaeum OWS X
Flowerepecker Austral
Common Chalophpas OWS X
Emerald Dove Indica
Spotted Streptopelia OWS X
Dove Chinensis
Pink-Necked
Green-pigeon Treron vernans OWS X
White-collared Halcyon chloris OWS X
Kingfisher
Phil. Bulbul Hypsipetes OWS X
phillipinenesis
Pink-Bellied Ducula VU X
Imperial poliocephala
pigeon
Euasian Tree- Passer OWS X
Sparrow montanous
Chestnut Lonchura OWS X
Munia Malacca
Blue-Troated Merops OWS X
Bee-Eater philippinus
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus OWS X
Barred Rail Gallerallus VU X
torquatus
White-Eared Phapitreron OWS X
Brown-Dove leucotis
Spotted Ducula carola OWS X
Imperial-
pigeon
Pied Imperial- Ducula bicolor VU X
pigeon
Green Ducula aenea VU X
Imperial-
Pigeon
Zebra Dove Geopelia striata VU X
Colasisi Loriculus OWS X
philippinensis
Phil. Coucal Centropus viridis OWS X
Phil. Hawk- Ninox OWS X
Owl philippinensis
Brown-Shrike Lanius cristatus OWS X
Large-Billed Corvus OWS X
Crow macroorhynchos
Visayan Penelopides EN X
Tarictic Panini
Hornbill
Yellow-Vented Pycnonotus EN X
Bulbul goiavier
Black Naped Oriolus OWS X
Oriole chinenesis
Oriental Capsychus OWS
Magpie-Robin saulares
Striated Magalurus OWS X
grassbird palustris
Bright Capped Cisticola exilis OWS X
Cisticola
Pied fantail Rhipidura OWS X
javanica
Asian Glossy Aplonis OWS X
Starling panayensis
Fire-Breasted Dicaeum OWS X
flowerpecker ignipetus
Pied-triller Lalage nigra OWS X
Variable Cayx Lepidus OWS X
dwaft-
Kingfisher
Reptiles
Reticulated Python OTS X
python reticulates
Phil. Sailfin Hydrosaurus OTS X
Lizard postulates
Malay Varanus VU X
Monitor lizard salvator
nuchalis
OWS X
Flying Lizard
Skink OWS X
Mammals
Malay Civet Viverra OWS X
cat tangalunga
Palm Civet Paradoxurus OWS X
Cat hermaphroditus
Leopard Cat Prionailurus VU X
 bengalensis
Insects OWS X
Butterfly OWS X
Cicada

Based on DAO 48, S, 1990

The above listed wildlife species have been observed and identified to have existed in the area
and also through second hand information (interview with residents). The conservation status is
based on the convention on the International Trade in Endangered species of wild flora an fauna
(CITES) and DENR Administrative Order No. 2004-15.

Appendix I = Critically Endangered species (CR) refers to species or subspecies that is facing
extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, in the immediate future;

Appendix II = Endangered species (EN) refers to species or subspecies that is not critically
endangered but which survival in the wild is unlikely if the causal factors continue operating;

Appendix III = Vulnerable Species (VU) refers to species and subspecies that is not critically
endangered nor endanger but is under treat from adverse factors through their range and is
likely to move to the endangered category in the near future;

Other Threaten Species (OTS) refers to species or subspecies that is not critically endangered,
endangered nor vulnerable but is under threat from adverse factors, such as over collection,
through their range and is likely to move to the vulnerable category in the near future;

Other Wildlife Species (OWS) refers to non- threaten species that have the tendency to become
threatened due to predation and destruction of habitat or other similar causes as maybe listed by
the secretary upon the recommendation on the national wildlife management committee;

Distribution:

Endemic (E) = found only in the Philippines;

Resident ® = Breed or are suspected of breeding in the Philippines normally living here
throughout the year.

Migrant (M) = Breed outside the Philippines and migrate to the country, some migrant may stay
over summer.

Accidental (A) = does not normally migrate, travel to or live near the Philippines, usually
recorded 1or 2 times.
 3. Geology
3.1 Fill detail for speleothems found inside the cave.
Speleothems Approximate Zone
Number Twilight zone covers 3 Remarks
meters from the cave
entrance
Twilight Dark
Dripstone and Flowstone forms 3m
Stalactites 128 3 125
Stalagmite 95 4 91
Draperies
Flowstone sheet
Columns 2 2
Others
Erratic forms ( Crystal growth
controlled)
Shields
Helictites
Botryoidal Forms (popcorn, Grapes,etcs.)
Anthodite
Outopholites ( Gyspsum Flowers)
Moonmilk
Others
Sub- aqueous Forms
Rimstone Dams ( gour pool) 2 1 1
Concretion of various kinds (limestone
concretion e.g. cave pearls, iron, basalt
Pool deposits
Crystal linings
Others Breakdown Few
Only Speleothems with the height of above 1 meter and a width of more than 1 meter were
counted / assessed sands and muds were also present on the floor of the cave.

3.2 Enumerate mineral deposits inside the cave

COMMON MINERALS FOUND IN THE CAVE

Aragonite
Calcite X
Dolomite X
Huntite
Hydromagnesite
Magnesite
Others Clay minerals
 3.3 Other geological features inside the cave
Geologic Features inside the cave Location
Faults None
Joints None
Cracks None
Fossils (paleontological Features) None
Others Caverns None

HYDROLOGY

4.1 Hydrological features inside the cave

Features Perennial Intermittent Natural Man made Size/v Remarks
Rivers
Falls
Sumps/pools Bottom X Muddy
portion
Others ( Specify)

4.2 Hydrological features outside the cave.

Features Number Perennial Intermittent Natural Man Remarks
made
Pools/ sumps
Rivers/stream 1 X X Underground
Falls
Others/spring 1 X X 500 meters
from the
cave

5. Cave hazards/ safety

Cave Hazards Location inside Remarks
cave
Bad air (from guano, poor air circulation, low supply None
oxygen
Presence of swiftly running underground river system None
Deep sumps on pools None
Vertical pitches/ entrances Still very passable
since the vertical
entrance measures
only more or less
one meter.
Tight crawl ways/squeezes None
Presence of breakdown Right side of the Few breakdown
cover
Deep mud None
Unstable flooring None
Sharp rocks None
Extremely cold temperature

III. ANTHROPOLOGICAL FEATURES-

IP Approximate population Livelihood Traditional
activities uses/Cultural activities
None
- Indigenous people (aeta) settled/lived approximately 6 kilometers away from the
cave.

IV. ARCHAELOGICAL FEATURES

1. Are there artifacts and ecofact on the present floor area of the cave, rocks shelter
or overhang?
____yes ___x____No

2. What are the artifacts present/

______stone tools (Flaked) ______ pottery( earthenware)
______stone tools (polished) ______ pottery(earth ware wit design)
______shell tools _______ metal implements
______Trade ware ceramics porcelain _____ wooden coffin\

3. What are the ecofacts present?

______ human bones ______shells (land)
______animal bones ______shells (freshwater)
______wood ______Shells (marine)

4. Are the earthworks on the wall?

______charcoal drawings
______hematite paintings
______engraved artwork
 V. THREATS, PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Problems Current Potential

Deforestation Illegal cutting Kaingin/settlement

Agriculture Patches of cultivation Kaingin/settlement.

Urbanization and Industry
Tourism and Recreation
Others
for crops and vegetable
production.
Population growth Establishment of commercial building
and housing project.
None Mismanagement of Tourism industry.
Problem on proper solid waste
disposal.
None None

VI. POTENTIAL USES OF THE CAVE

Potential Uses of the Cave
Scientific Research For further scientific study on cave resources
and cultural resources.
Tourism and Recreation For sustainable eco-tourismof LGU Mabinay.

Exploration None
Other None

VII. Recommendations

The cave is highly recommended to be classified under class 3, specifically for ECO
Tourism of LGU Mabinay.

Cave assessment conducted by: Prepared by:

A. Regional Cave Assessment and Classification Team

1. Michael Merilles
2. Reynaldo Yray CENRO II CAST
3. Solon Bagalihog
B. CENRO II-Cave Assessment and Classification Team
1. Oscar S. Mongcopa
2. Jose A. Baroña
3. Elery Vaughn Libo-on
4. Jeffrey Dasian
5. Anthony Lloyd Patrimonio
6. William Nacua
7. Mabinay Tourist Guide Association