THREE cave sites in Sitios Suwa and Maglunod in Barangay Quezon, San Calros City, Negros Occidental were visited and assessed by a team from the Forestry Division of the locality’s Environment Management Office (EMO) recently.Ramil Tanuco of the city’s EMO said that the cave venture is part of their Earth Day Celebration Friday, April 22.It is also aimed at rediscovering the caves, he said, adding that they will assess these natural sites,Tanuco noted that two of these caves need proper care while the other cave is a potential tourist spot.During the exploration, Tanuco and his team found growing stalactites and this is the reason why they need to examine the caves and map out measures on how to protect these mineral formation.Meanwhile, Oscar Molas, Coastal Ecosystem and Development Program in-charge of the Coastal Resource Management Division (CRMD) of Cemo, said that they will assess the caves again with professional cave divers to help them in the thrust of protecting the stalactites and stalagmites.He led the diving expedition at the waters inside the cave.For his part, land owner Raymundo Ymbang where two of the caves are situated said that these caves have been used by his family as a water source for their plantation.Ymbang said that he also discovered that fresh water eels thrive in these underground water cave.He added that these caves already existed long ago since his father’s time and possibly during the Japanese era.Barangay Quezon Kagawad Maria Socorro-Dollosa Zapanta also helped assess the caves with hopes that said caves will be developed in the near future as potential tourist spots.She stressed that the barangay has a great responsibility in helping preserve and conserve these nature’s wonders. (PR)