The Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park (BTLNP), commonly known as “Twin Lakes" in Negros Oriental, declared a heritage park in Southeast Asia in 2024, received the ASEAN Heritage Park Certificate in November 2025.

The inclusion of the Twin Lakes as an ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP) was approved by the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment last September 19, 2024.

The unveiling of the AHP Marker at BTLNP in Sibulan town took place on November 21, 2025. Multi-sectoral stakeholders in the Province of Negros Oriental witnessed the unveiling and turnover of the certificate.

The AHP marker is a physical representation of the said declaration. 

The turnover of the AHP Certificate from the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB) to the Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) - BTLNP and the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the twin lakes is another highlight of the program. 

The unveiling of the marker coincided with the anniversary of the twin lakes' declaration as a “protected area” by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 414 signed by former president Joseph Estrada. 

Officials from the ACB which serves as the secretariat of the AHP Program, PAMO- BTLNP, DENR including its Biodiversity Management Bureau - National Parks Division, Negros Island Regional Office and Negros Oriental Provincial Office, and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office - Dumaguete  (CENRO-Dumaguete), and the PAMB attended the ceremony.

Governor Manuel (Chaco) Sagarbarria, Negros Oriental 2nd District Rep. Maisa Sagarbarria, local government unit officials from Sibulan and San Jose, and officers and members of Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Farmers' Association, the Peoples' Organization operating and managing eco-tourism activities in the twin lakes, among others, graced the unveiling and turnover of the AHP Certificate. 

Dr. Jerome Montemayor, ACB executive director, said that being part of AHP Program provides capacity building opportunities to the management board of the twin lakes in terms of protected area management effectiveness, wild life law enforcement, engagement with potential conservation partners in the regional and global scale, boosting public awareness and media visibility, and knowledge and experience sharing with other heritage parks in the country and Southeast Asia. 

(Info & photo courtesy: Philippine Information Agency Negros Oriental)