The Interface Development Interventions Inc. and the Ecoteneo Division of the Ateneo de Davao University have joined forces in calling for the suspension of the re-opening of Mt. Apo to tourism.
At theKapehan saDabaw on Monday, IDIS acting Executive Director Chinkie Peliño-Golle called on other groups to support the rehabilitation of the mountain as well as the continued banning of trekkers and climbers from scaling it.
Golle said the mountain needs more time to recover from the 200-hectare forest fire that destroyed its forest cover in March last year.
“It even takes a minimum of three years for a tree to grow. Mt. Apo is not ready yet. It needs more time to heal. It was only a year ago when the fire happened,” stressed Ms. Peliño-Golle.
On March 23, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Protective Area Management Board approved the lifting of the ban through Resolution No. 01 series of 2017.
The resolution paved the way for the re-opening of the Mt. Apo Park trails to trekking or climbing activities on April 2017, subject to the strict implementation of the unified trekking policy of 2015, camp management of 2015 and master plan of 2016.
“That unified trekking policy said that only 50 trekkers per trail langang allowed pero we have four trails, that’s still 200 people and it’s a lot,” she said.
Peliño-Golle also added that up to date, there was no 2016 rehabilitation master plan being presented by the DENR.
On April 5, IDIS will be sitting down with the DENR stockholder’s meeting and will be raising their reasons for opposing the re-opening of Mt. Apo.
IDIS has also reached out to their other partner environmental organizations like the Philippine Eagle Foundation and the Kapwa Uplift Foundation to join hands in opposing the lifting of the ban to open Mt. Apo for the public.
