VICE presidential candidate Senator Chiz Escudero said that the Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR) should think of their capacity to guard Mt. Apo first before declaring any closure.
Escudero, in press conference in Davao City on Thursday, reminded the DENR that putting off the fire in the country's highest peak should be given utmost priority.
"Tingnan muna kung sapat ba ang kakayahan nila bago mag-declare ng closure. Sana huwag magpadalos-dalos kasi ang mangyayari niyan closed lang yan sa mga sumusunod nang batas pero hindi sa mga hindi sumusunod nang batas," Escudero said.
He said that as chair of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, he is aware that there is a shortage of forest guards with a ratio of one in every 400 hectares.
"Paano aalagan yun. Dapat dagdagan ang forest guards," Escudero said.
He also said that he plans to implement an environmental cash transfer which will enable the residents in the area to be partners in the protection of Mt. Apo.
The DENR last Wednesday said they plan to temporarily close Mt. Apo to campers following the massive fire razing the country's highest peak.
DENR Secretary Ramon Paje last Wednesday reportedly ordered DENR Davao Region director Joselin Marcus Fragada to discuss the concerned local executives' plan to prevent a repeat of the fire incident.
Reports from PIA in Davao del Sur said that the Protected Area Mgmt Board overseeing Mt. Apo passed resolutions to indefinitely close all entrances to Mt Apo and to use the integrated protected area fund from trekking fees for immediate rehabilitation of Mt. Apo.