AFTER three months since it was closed due to grassfires, the Akiki-Tawangan area of Mount Pulag in Kabayan town, Benguet province, was reopened to hikers and campers.
The Benguet Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) and Mount Pulag National Park reopened on Tuesday the Akiki trail and Mt. Pulag’s summit to hikers.
On January 20, the area was temporarily closed after a grassfire incident allegedly caused by an explosion of a camper’s butane-fueled portable stove. Six hectares of grassland was damaged.
Protected Area Superintendent Victor Gorinto urged hikers to be extra careful and avoid stepping outside the designated trail to allow the growth of the grasses.
“The burnt area of the summit is still regenerating with a regular monitoring on the area. As of April 6, the growth of dwarf bamboos has reached three inches,” he added.
As rainy days continue, Gorinto hopes for a faster growth of the dwarf bamboos although he added it may take years to fully recover, noting a slow growth from the torched dwarf bamboos.
Gorinto said they have cordoned the area and advised hikers to be extra careful, follow the trail and not to disturb the regeneration of the grassland.
All hikers bound for Mount Pulag National Park must log-on at any of the ranger stations in protected area office in Ambangeg, Babadak Rangers Station, Akiki Ranger Station, Tabeyo and Tinoc Ranger Station.
On the other hand, during the Protected Area Management Board regular meeting on March 19, a report on the survey and mapping of the burnt area of the park was presented that will serve as supplement from the academe composed of Geographer Leonard Soriano, Field Researchers Russ and Engelbert Chan and Licensed Drone Pilot Ian Gongona.
A total of 349 aerial images were collected and stitched together to create a geo-referenced land cover map, which was processed to quantitively measure the burnt area estimated to be at 1.49 kilometers.
Gorinto said that instead of cooking food at the site, hikers are advised to bring packed lunch and ready-to-eat meals during their hike.
The new policy on the use of stoves in campsites has yet to be issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.