A GROUP of mountaineers in Northern Mindanao began a two-day clean-up of Mount Kitanglad Friday, February 16, ahead of the scheduled re-opening of the mountain to trekkers and hikers this year .
Mount Kitanglad, located in Bukidnon province and the fourth highest mountain in the country at 2,899 meters, was closed to the public in 2017 at the height of the Marawi crisis.
Chisum Factura, president of the Northern Mindanao Mountaineering Society (NORMMS), said they were tapped by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB)-Mount Kitanglad Range to spearhead the three-day cleanup initiative.
Factura noted that the mountain range is one of the dirtiest among all mountains in the region, pointing out that anyone can climb it because of its established trail.
“So even those who did not undergo training or proper orientation, they can just climb the mountain anytime. We call them irresponsible mountaineers because they were just there to climb but they do not know the Leave No Trace (LNT) principle, did not undergo basic mountaineering course. This is important because you will know what to do pre-climb, during the climb, and post-climb, the equipment you need to bring,” he said.
He said some mountaineers "wisely" hide their garbage, as you cannot see them on the trail.
Factura said NORMMS aims at educating fellow hikers and local communities about the LNT principle, so as to avoid with the incident in Mount Pulag where seven hikers from Cebu caused a blaze inside the Mt. Pulag National Park in Benguet. The fire endangered people and forest resources.
“We’re trying to protect our mountains here in the region. Mindanao has so much beautiful mountains, and they need protection,” he said.
The LNT is a seven-point guideline on outdoor conservation. It was adapted from the international Center for Outdoor Ethics, a “member-driven” center that raises awareness on how to reduce impact on the environment.
Factura said they are applying for a seat in the PAMB to represent mountaineers and help the concerned government agencies monitor the protected areas.
After the clean-up, the DENR is expected to open the mountain to the public.
The clean-up will start at the foot of the mountain and will end at its peak.
Among the participants were NORMMS members and students from Xavier University-Ateneo Mountaineering Society.