South Cotabato’s Lake Holon will be closed for two months in order to allow its ecosystem to recuperate and rehabilitate its existing facilities.

According to T’boli mayor Dibu Tuan, the closure is necessary to avoid the environment’s degradation. “Lake Holon deserves a break from the influx of tourists,” he said in a statement. “This is the best that we can do to preserve the beauty of Holon.”

During the closure, a biodiversity assessment of the site will be conducted. Municipal tourism officer Rodel Hilado also said that training and refresher courses will be conducted for all the tourism personnel assigned at the lake’s facilities.

Lake Holon is touted as the “Crown Jewel of the South” and is recognized as the cleanest inland body of water in the country by the national government. In 2016 and 2017, the site was included in Green Destinations’ “Top 100 Sustainable Destinations.”