Preservation of Mt. Pulag urged

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the Mt. Pulag national park needs urgent ground verification for preservation.

Emerita Albas, Protected Area Superintendent of Mt. Pulag, said concerned government agencies like the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, DENR, local government units, Provincial Government, non–government organizations and the community along the park should create a ‘chemistry’ to bring balance to the now degrading mountain.

Albas said ground verification is needed to identify residents who illegally entered the national park. She cited this need because at present, various residents are entering the prohibited park and even reside in the area.

She also said the park’s situation is now degrading because of different human activities like mining and alleged indiscriminate farming.

During the survey of the Protected Area Management Board along Mt. Pulag, Albas said they witnessed several illegal activities of the residents in the areas.

She added they were able to file cases against the residents but were dismissed by the courts.

Albas said since then, they received life threats from the community, which made them temporarily stopped their environmental survey.

The situation of Mt. Pulag was presented during the regular session of the Provincial Board on Wednesday.