PinoyMountaineer’s position on DENR plan to extend Banahaw’s closure
Inasmuch as we mountaineers would love to climb Mt. Banahaw again, we respect the DENR’s plan to extend the public closure of the mountain. As long as there are no facilities and manpower in place to regulate and educate visitors, we are afraid that the healing of the mountain would be interrupted, and it may suffer, to use a medical metaphor, a “relapse”. The opportunity for hikers to enjoy a mountain is a privilege, not a right; it is secondary only to the protection of the mountain and the sustenance of its ecosystem.
Ultimately, however, the only win-win solution for Mt. Banahaw (and all the Philippine mountains) is regulation, not closure. A properly regulated national park is sustainable because the revenue from the visitors is itself the source of funds for the maintenance of the parks, and because the number of visitors are controlled so that there is minimal impact to the environment. Trained guides will themselves police trekkers if needed, and the trekkers themselves would serve as a deterrent to much more harmful activities such as illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming.
A mountain cannot prepare itself for reopening; guides must be trained, facilities need to set up and legislation enacted, if needed. We hope that all the stakeholders will make a concerted effort towards this end, particularly the DENR and the LGUs. If these things are not done, Banahaw will never be ready. I am sure that many mountaineering groups and individuals will be glad to support these measures.
Mountaineers may have to wait for Mt. Banahaw yet again; I trust that it will not be in vain.
Leave a Reply
5 Comments on "PinoyMountaineer’s position on DENR plan to extend Banahaw’s closure"
Kailangan mag pulog mag usap ang mga nakakataas na mountaineer! Makipag ugnayan tayo s nauukulan kausapin natin ang DENR.. Huwag niyo na hintayin umabot pa ito sa senado…
nakaka lungkot, ayaw ko sanang isipin na may mga bagay na labag sa batas na nangyayari sa loob ng mt banahaw..wag naman sana..ang tagal ng sarado nito..
sana makuha ng banahaw group ang diskarte ng pulag group..
sana pag bukas ng banahaw kya pa ng mga tuhod ko..
Banahaw was closed in 2003. Eight years should be enough to train guides, build facilities and regulations. What did they do the past 8 years? Quarrying? Illegal logging? If DENR and the locals really want to allow visitors in Banahaw, they should reopen it right away. If they think that Banahaw is too sacred for irresponsible visitors, they should close it forever. Simple as that. I don't see any logic for extending the closure year after year after.. Wala naman nangyayari.
To traveler:
I dont like the closure of Mt Banahaw any more than you do. But you have to look at it from another perspective. I agree, the DENR CAN and SHOULD police and regulate the mountaineers. They also SHOULD train guides for such a tast. But the thing is, it HASNT been done. Guides should be trained FIRST, before the actually open it to public again otherwise, if you only start training guides AFTER it is reopened to the public, you are just going to deteriorate the environment faster than you can train the guides to protect it.
Why is DENR extending the closure of Mt Banahaw? And are pilgrims exempt from this? I agree with you when you say the DENR can police the army of climbers and ask for various fees (fees can be socialized as well–students pay lesser vs professional people)and in fact put the income to good use by training guides and in maintaining trails.Banahaw is one mountain close to Manila that we can all protect and benefit from.Sana bigyan tayo ng pagkakataong makita at ma enjoy ang kalikasan ng Pinas. Keeping the mountain away from people who benefit and appreciate their country from a different vantage point and perspective (kasi nasa itaas ka), is more harmful, I think.