SINCE the Protected Areas Management Board (Pamb) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ordered the temporary closure of Mt. Apo due to the ongoing dry spell, the economic activity in the area has been affected.
Sta. Cruz senior tourism officer Julius Paner said a total of 110 mountain porters and 60 accredited tourist guides were affected since the closure for any climbing activity was implemented last March 31.
Paner said although it was not the first time Mt. Apo was off limits to the public, he said the closure somewhat affected the tourism activity in the region, since it is a known tourist spot for being the highest mountain in the country.
“Bisan wala sila’y activities, they have other means of income na pwede himuon while Apo is closed (Although Apo is temporarily closed, they have other means of income that they can do),” he said, adding that the Provincial Government of Davao del Sur is providing assistance to affected stakeholders.
Recently, the province received P1 million cash assistance coming from the Davao City Government after it declared state of calamity due to the ongoing dry spell, affecting farm crops.
He also said residents with small businesses along the trek, including sari-sari stores and habal-habal drivers were also affected with the closure.
Paner also said majority of the porters were former rebel members and supporters who were reached out by the government to be effective manpower support in the area.
However, he said that Sta. Cruz has been promoting other tourists sites in the area.
These include Mt. Loay, which was discovered last year, and had received positive response from mountaineers.
“Very ideal hiking attraction siya. Atong problema nalang is tutukan nato ang paggenerate sa basura gikan sa mga turista (It is a very ideal hiking attraction. The problem we are anticipating is the waste generation coming from tourists),” Paner said.
Meanwhile, the tourism officer said no illegal activities were reported during the closure.
He also said that no grass fire was reported.
Aside from the local government unit, the barangay and other monitoring agencies, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) had been monitoring the area and conducting information drive to prevent possible fire breakout. (RGL)