The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has lifted the ban on trekking activities in Mt. Apo.
Per a report by sunstar.com.ph, Sta. Cruz Municipal Tourism Officer Julius Paner said the DENR’s Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) lifted the ban after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) released an advisory that the El Niño period has passed.
It was in April this year when the DENR closed down the Mt. Apo from any climbing activities due to the El Niño advisory by the weather bureau.
The ban was necessary since the El Niño phenomenon made Mt. Apo it susceptible to fire incidents.
The move was part the preventive measure to avoid fire incidents similar to what happened last March 2016 where 115 hectares of forest and grassland were razed, blamed on irresponsible climbers, the report said.
