On March 2016, Mt. APO was burned by causes of human negligence when thousands of climbers were allowed to climb on a very hot summer week by the lgus around the mountain. Hundreds of hectares was destroyed and burned to ashes. Mountaineers and locals volunteered to contain the conflagration in support of the government agencies tasked to handle the incident. Weeks passed before it was declared fireout helped by nature and the clouds when the helicopter drops seems ineffective. Subsequently, Mt. APO was closed indefinetely in all trails to allow the mountain to be rehabilitated and heal her burnt face. We are supportive of the closure. We understood the essence.

On March 23, 2017, barely a year after the tragic incident, the pamb and the lgus opened the mountain for commercialized climbs. This time it is more expensive at P2,500.00 per climbers. Evident is the selfish motive to fatten their coffers at the expense of the mountain which they themselves should had been made accountable of their subsidiary liabiliy when it was burned. What a distorted logic when raising the climb permit does not guarantee another conflagration to occur.

While millions was allocated by the denr for the rehabilitation of the mountain, allowing its reopening for commercialized climbs manifests their contadictory policies. This we strongly oppose for we look up the majestic mountain with respect and admiration. Its one of the heritage that we all should help protect and preserve for our next generation to see.

Let us join the clamor. Let everyone be counted, mountaineers and freelancers including those who love and care for the mountain, let our voice be heard wherever it reach. It has to reverberate in the ears of the policy makers, the decision makers and the judiciary so that a Writ of Kalikasan be issued to mandate the protection and continued rehabilitation of the majestic Mt. APO.

NO TO THE REOPENING OF MT APO FOR COMMERCIALIZED CLIMBS!

YES TO THE CONTINUED REHABILITATION OF MT. APO!

LET THERE BE AN INDEFINITE CLOSURE UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT THE MOUNTAIN HAS RECOVERED AND AN EDUCATED ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION SUPPORTS ITS REOPENING.