SUMMER is usually the peak season as more mountaineers and trekkers climb the country's highest peak, giving boost to the local tourism industry and giving residents nearby a source of additional income.
But as the fire continues to spread across the mountain, the regional office of the Department of Tourism feared it will cause a significant loss in revenues.
Roberto Alabado III, DOT regional director told Sun.Star Davao in a phone interview Tuesday that as the authorities ordered to seal off Mt. Apo from mountaineers until the area is safe, local communities in Kapatagan, Sta. Cruz, Bansalan, Makilala, Kidapawan and Magpet are seen to be heavily affected as many tour guides and other individuals dependent on Mt. Apo activities will lose their additional source of income.
“Our concern about this other than to stop the devastating inferno presently happening in Mt. Apo is that the sudden closure of all the active trails will left the local communities making a living in the mountain activities unprepared,” he said.
At present they are in talks with the ecotourism council of the Mt. Apo Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) and all the stakeholders on what are the alternative livelihood activities they can give to the community.
The fire is still raging on as of this posting and is reportedly affecting over 300 hectares, according to Davao del Sur- Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The fire in Mt. Apo National Park broke out Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Alabado also emphasized there is a possibility of suspending the annual international Boulder Face Challenge set on April 24 which is one of the featured activities of this year’s Visit Davao Fun Sale (VDFS).
“We are yet to talk about this, but we are considering the option of cancelling the Mt. Apo Boulder Challenge if the trails in the mountain will be unsafe for the mountaineers, of course we do not want to compromise their safety, that is of paramount concern,” Alabado said.
In a report, the Kapatagan trail last Holy week recorded 225 mountaineers.
