Rizal province is known for its famous caves; two of those are the Calinawan Cave in Tanay and the Pamitinan Cave in Montalban. These two are also known for their historical background and filming locations, with enormous cave systems and chambers. According to the locals, several caves were identified within Rizal tourist areas on private and public lands. These caves shall be subject for the assessment by the Regional Cave Management Team of the DENR CALABARZON for proper protection and conservation and to prevent exploitation.

Guided by Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) Technical Bulletin Nos. 2018-06 and 2021-01, the standard forms for wetlands and caves profiling, PENRO Rizal conducts cave inventory within and outside protected areas in the province.

Initially, PENRO has already located and visited ten (10) caves in the municipality of Tanay and in Montalban, Rizal. Republic Act No. 9072 also known as the “National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act” define caves as “any naturally occurring void, cavity, recess or system of interconnected passages beneath the surface of the earth or within a cliff or ledge and which is large enough to permit an individual to enter, whether or not the entrance, located either in private or public land, is naturally formed or man- made. It shall include any natural pit, sinkhole or other feature which is an extension of the entrance. The term also includes cave resources therein, but not any vug, mine tunnel, aqueduct or other man- made excavation.”

Sungay Cave at Macaira Garden Resort in Tanay is closed to tourists, with a small keyhole passage or cave opening eyed for the conduct of cave assessment.

In addition, one cave near the Calinawan Cave in Sitio Rawang, Brgy. Tandang Kutyo was located at Pupot Bukal. Based on pre-assessed stalactites and stalagmites and has a stream flowing from the entrance. Whip Spider, Swiftlets are some of the common species. PENRO Rizal advised the resident caretakers to temporarily close the cave to tourists until further notice.

PENRO Rizal and Kaliwa River Forest Reserve (KRFR) officers took the opportunity to raise public awareness, especially of those caves within the private lands, under the provisions of the National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act, or Republic Act No. 9072.###