Mt. Apo remains open with stricter policing from porters and guides

MOUNT Apo, the country’s highest peak, will remain open to climbers and trekkers after the protected area’s management board voted to defer a proposed closure due to irresponsible tourists who recently left trash along the trails and campsites as well as vandalized boulders. Julius R. Paner, tourism officer of Sta. Cruz town which is one of the entry points to the mountain, said there are enough policies and guidelines in place, and what is crucial is stricter implementation. “Basically, these policies are stipulated in the Unified Trekking Policy and I found it effective in maintaining our trail,” he said. “When it comes to trash particularly in the trail of Sta. Cruz, our porters and guides are tasked to police to ensure that there are no trash left by the trekkers,” he added. The Protected Area Management Board handling Mt. Apo, in an en banc meeting last week, voted 28 to eight in favor of continuing climbing activities. Mt. Apo was reopened in November 2020 with additional safety protocols in consideration of the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this month, Environment and Natural Resources Davao Regional Director Bagani Fidel A. Evasco pushed for the temporary closure of the Mt. Apo park after a weekend camp assessment showed the violations. Mt. Apo straddles Davao City and the provinces of Davao del Sur and North Cotabato. “We aim for the improvement of condition and sustainability of Mt. Apo. We must do what it takes to safeguard the country’s highest peak — to protect it as a key biodiversity area and one of our immense natural resources,” Mr. Evasco said during the board meeting. —