THE MT. Apo Natural Park (MANP) will have an off-season, which prohibits trekking and camping activities on all open trails in the area from June 1 to Aug. 31.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources XI announced on Monday, June 1, that the closure will be simultaneously enforced in Davao Region and Soccsksargen to ensure the rehabilitation, disaster prevention, and biodiversity preservation, protection, and development of Mt. Apo.
“All trekking and camping activities are hereby prohibited until closure is lifted,” DENR XI said in a statement.
These include access trails to MANP from Kidapawan City and the towns of Makilala and Magpet of Cotabato province, Digos City, Bansalan, and Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur.
The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), the highest policy-making body in Mt. Apo, started to implement the yearly “off-season,” pursuant to PAMB En Banc Resolution No. 08, series of 2021.
The off-season aims to give Mt. Apo a time to breathe and, likewise, allow wildlife species to enjoy their habitat without disturbance.
Trekking activities will resume on Sept. 1, 2025.
MANP covers a total land area of 64,000 hectares, spanning the provinces of Cotabato in Region XII and Davao del Sur and Davao City in Region XI.
It is the highest mountain in the country with an altitude of 2,954 meters above sea level.
MANP was declared a protected area and a component of the National Protected Areas System under Republic Act 9237 in 2003.
To note, DENR XI and XII jointly conducted a simulation activity on April 30 in preparation for the upcoming assessment of Mt. Apo as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
“MANP’s strong integration of geological, biological, and cultural values aligns with UNESCO’s holistic geopark framework and is further reinforced by the support of local government units, Indigenous Peoples (IP) leaders, and barangay stakeholders,” DENR Soccsksargen said.
The official validation is set in August 2026, when UNESCO Global Geopark evaluators will visit Regions XI and XII, covering the Mt. Apo Natural Park.
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