Skip to main content

Parts of Mt. Banahaw remain closed for tourists


MANILA, Philippines -- Some areas in Mount Banahaw remain “off limits” to visitors, including pilgrims, for another three years as these remain highly susceptible to various geological hazards.

According to Reynulfo Juan, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 4A Calabarzon OIC regional executive director, team of experts who recently conducted a study in Mount Banahaw to assess its biophysical and socio-cultural characteristics declared that trekking, camping and other outdoor activities in the “Holy Mountain” is dangerous because of the possibility of flash floods, landslide and mudslides.

Mount Banahaw was supposed to be opened to pilgrims, adventurous mountaineers, simple trekkers or mere kibitzers’ last January 29, after the lapse of an earlier resolution banning entry into some parts of the protected area.

Juan, concurrently the chairman of the Protected Areas and Management Board (PAMB) of the Mounts Banahaw and San Cristobal Protected Landscape (MBSCPL), said the PAMB passed Resolution 02-2012 on February 16, extending the ban of all activities for another three years.

Dr. Lope A. Calanog, head of the team for the DENR Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau which conducted the “carrying capacity and biodiversity study” with special focus on the vicinity of Barangay Kinabuhayan in Dolores revealed that Kinabuhayan is highly susceptible to landslide, erosion and flash flood.

The ban aims to limit human activity in the mountain. Over the years that it has been declared “off limits” to visitors, the overall condition of Mount Banahaw has shown remarkable improvements.

The team said Mount Banahaw needs more time for it to recuperate and completely recover from the stress it experienced for a long time.

“Off limits” areas start in Kinabuhayan toward the approach to Kristalino Falls to Dungaw, to Tatlong Tangke and back to Kinabuhayan on the Dolores side, Puesto Pagbuga in Barangay Bugon and Bagong Ilaya in Barangay Concepcion Pinagbakuran and Concepcion Banahaw on the Sariaya-side.

Calanog’s team also recommended a formulation and effective implementation of a “visitor management scheme” which would impose a regulated or “direct limit” of visitors at one time and restriction in specific areas such as use of the bathing, camping and worship areas.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

DOÑA LEONILA (MINI-FOREST) PARK

What is now known as Doña Leonila (Mini-Forest) Park overlooking the Sampaloc Lake is actually a portion of the site for the City Hall Complex purchased in 1937 by the Municipal Government of San Pablo headed by President Inocencio Barleta, which was partly developed after the termination of World War II under the administration of appointed City Mayor, Dr. Fernando A. Bautista. During the incumbency of elected Mayor Lauro D. Dizon Sr., with the help of the Rotary Club of San Pablo, and under the supervision of Dr. Juan B. Hernandez, then club secretary of the local Rotary Club and Chairman of the City Beautification Committee, constructed some park structures at the park, with the fountain featuring the country lass with agriculture harvest as centerpiece. Probably, Hernandez and then City Engineer Perfecto Reyes were inspired by the figures affixed on the façade of the City Hall Building which symbolizes progress. Sometimes on April of 1961 when then President Carlos Garcia made a

FELICISIMO T. SAN LUIS, ANG ALAMAT NG LAGUNA

Si Abogado Felicisimo Tobias San Luis, na isinilang noong Hunyo 23, 1919, at lumaki sa Bayan ng Santa Cruz, ay nanungkulang Punonglalawigan ng Laguna simula noong Disyembre 30, 1955 hanggang sa siya ay papagpamahingahin noong Disyembre 18, 1992, o siya ay tuloy-tuloy na nanungkulan sa loob ng 36 taon, 11 buwan, at 18 araw, na kinikilala ng kasaysayan na siya ang natatanging lider na nanungkulan bilang punong tagapagpaganap ng isang lalawigan sa Pilipinas sa ganoong kahabang panahon.      Isang mabuting mananalumpati, nang ibaba ni Pangulong Ferdinand E. Marcos ang Martial Law o ng ipatupad ang Presidential Proclamation No. 1081 noong 1972, sila ni Alkalde Cesar P. Dizon ng Lunsod ng San Pablo noon, ang inatasan ng Pangulo ng Bansa na maglibot sa mga lalawigan ng bansa upang ipaunawa sa mga pinunong lokal   ang kahulugan ng Martial Law bilang isang proseso upang maitatag ang Bagong Lipunan na inaasahang magbibigay-daan upang makamit ang pambansang kaunlarang pangkabuhayan at umiral an

BARBARA JEAN APOSTOL A San Pableña
Passed the BAR Examination in the State of New York, U. S. A.

Miss Philippines-USA 2004-2005, Barbara Jean Chumacera Apostol, 27, passed the New York State’s examination for admission to the BAR given on July 24-25, 2007 . She attained her law degree at Hofstra University School of Law in the State of New York where she graduated with honors last May 20, 2007 . At Hofstra Law School , Barbara was the Vice President of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association and was appointed to the position of Diversity Affairs Coordinator by the president of the Student Bar Association. Ms. Apostol was a 2002 cum luade graduate of Boston College, one of the oldest Jesuit University in the United States with campus in Chestbut Hill, Massachusetts, where she majored in pre-law and communication studies. Incidentally, she completed her elementary and secondary education at Sachem High School in Lake Ronkonkoma, NY. Barbara Jean is a daughter of Antonio Apostol and former Abecinia “Baisy” Chumacera of Barangay San Francisco, San Pablo Ci