Mt. Apo to be closed to trekkers

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is set to issue a directive declaring Mt. Apo off limits to trekkers.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje yesterday said they are just waiting for the assessment of a forest fire on the mountain, which was categorized as “alarmingly large.”

Paje said he directed Joselin Marcus Fragada, DENR-Davao region director, to discuss the move with concerned local executives.

Mt. Apo, the country’s highest mountain, straddles Davao City, North Cotabato and Davao del Sur.

Reports reaching the DENR central office said the fire had so far razed around 350 hectares of grasslands.

The DENR deployed 40 technical personnel to assist local government units, the Bureau of Fire Protection and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in putting out the fire.

“The composite teams… are providing assistance, particularly in the use of geographical position system or GPS and control maps, as well as the establishment of fire lines to prevent the blaze from spreading,” Paje said.

A fire line is a gap in vegetation or combustible materials that will act as barrier to slow down or stop the fire from spreading.

“The fire should be contained as soon as possible so it will not crawl into the inner areas,” Paje said.

He said an Air Force helicopter conducted water bucket operations to douse the fire.

“Water dropping commenced at 9 a.m. on Tuesday but ended at 11:30 a.m. due to poor visibility.  A total of 10 buckets equivalent to 30 drums were dropped,” he said.

Paje said the blaze is expected to be put out today.

Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles said he was saddened that the fire, which started along the Kidapawan City trail on Saturday, continues to devastate more areas.

”The move of the government to close Mt. Apo makes sense,” Valles said.

Meanwhile, the Albay Provincial Environment and Management Office (PENRO) said slash-and-burn farming triggered the grass fires on Mayon Volcano last week.

Banjamin Medel, PENRO officer, said some 75 hectares of grasslands were affected.

“We have stationed two forest rangers to monitor those who are engaged in slash-and-burn farming,” said Medel. – With Celso Amo, Evelyn Macairan