More than 30 sacks of waste collected from protected sites

CEBU, Philippines — Despite the closure of the Spartan trail here, some trekkers continue to disregard environmental rules,

leaving garbage in other sites within the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL).

This was evident during a cleanup drive early yesterday morning, October 16, when volunteers collected more than 30 sacks of waste from Buhisan Dam, Pamutan, and Sapangdaku.

The activity was organized by the Office of Councilor Joel Garganera, Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO), CCPL staff, and hiking and trail communities.

Forester Mardione R. Delos Reyes, Protected Area Superintendent, joined the effort alongside Councilor Joel Garganera, chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Environment.

Garganera lamented that those who continue to litter “are not true nature lovers” and stressed that stronger measures are needed to protect Cebu’s upland ecosystems.

The cleanup was an offshoot of a meeting held last week in lieu of an executive session concerning the Spartan Trail.

Garganera explained that discussions at his office led to the creation of a chat group linking hikers, trekkers, mountaineers, CCPL staff, CCENRO, and his office.

From this, the group also agreed to hold a whole day seminar on November 5 to deputize trekkers and mountaineers as CCPL extension officers.

The seminar will cover safety protocols, environmental stewardship, and accreditation of responsible trail users.

Results will be presented to the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) later this month, which will assess whether the Spartan Trail can eventually reopen.

The Spartan Trail, located within the Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve, is part of the CCPL established under Republic Act No. 9486 in 2007.

The protected landscape spans more than 29,000 hectares and serves as Metro Cebu’s primary watershed, home to endemic species such as the black shama bird and the Philippine long tailed macaque.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources ordered the trail closed earlier after damage and deterioration were discovered.

Trekkers are urged to follow the “Leave No Trace” ethic and the local “Bring Your Own Trash Home” campaign, stressing that conservation is a shared responsibility.