DOT jumpstarts Mt Apo tourism development

MANILA, Philippines – Months after the fire that devastated Mount Apo, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is eyeing to develop new products and activities that would revive tourism in the area.

DOT Region 12 director Nelly Dillera told The STAR a team from North Cotabato and Davao del Sur is set to go on a mission in Malaysia to explore ideas on new tourism products that can apply to Mount Apo’s base.

“A team will go to Malaysia to study what activities we can offer at the bottom of Mount Apo, since we can’t open the summit yet,” Dillera said in an interview.

“We also want to benchmark, because Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia has been generating thousands of visitors every year, we also want that to happen in Mount Apo,” she said.

Mount Apo is currently under a rehabilitation program from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“A lot of opportunities are being wasted because it is closed. But the entry points, which are located at the base of the mountain, are already destinations in themselves. So why can’t we promote those areas down the mountain?” Dillera said, referring to New Israel, Lake Agco, Tawsuvan Falls in North Cotabato.

She said the DOT is also looking into offering short climbs along the mountain’s base.

“We are exploring the possibility of offering trekking activities, around two or three hours. Of course, just within the base of Mount Apo. We still can’t go to the summit,” the official said.

Aside from doing research and benchmarking, Dillera said the team would also explore talks with their Malaysian counterparts to form a partnership.

Mount Apo is the highest mountain in the Philippines with an elevation of 2,954 meters above sea level.