‘Banahaw’ closed to trekkers

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reminded vacationers yesterday to stay away from Mt. Banahaw this Holy Week, as portions of the so-called "mystic mountain" remain off-limits to travelers.

The DENR said that despite a continuing rehabilitation of certain areas in Mt. Banahaw, its environs remain polluted due to human activities.

"Mt. Banahaw has been a favorite destination of nature lovers, trekkers and mountaineers, as well as religious groups and the superstitious especially during Holy Week," the DENR said.

The mountain forms part of the Mt. Banahaw-San Cristobal National Park, which in June 2003 was declared a protected area. The park covers the towns of Sariaya, Candelaria, Tayabas, Lucban and Dolores, all in Quezon, and Rizal, Nagcarlan, Liliw, Majayjay and San Pablo City in Laguna.

The park is a watershed that provides for the needs of more than a million citizens of Quezon and Laguna. But during the Quezon Provincial Watershed Summit in April 2003, the deterioration of the environment at Mt. Banahaw, especially due to large amounts of trash left behind by visitors, became a high-priority concern.

A scientific study in the area revealed the presence of coliform bacteria contaminating the waters flowing from the mountain. There was also a substantial decrease in the amount of water at its Crystalline Falls.

This prompted the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) to declare certain areas of Mt. Banahaw in Dolores and Sariaya, Quezon closed to visitors for five years, from 2004 to 2009, through PAMB Resolution No. 2004-001 to allow its rehabilitation.

The DENR said that although an inspection last March 21 showed improvements in the closed areas, the DENR decided to maintain the closure to allow for further rehabilitation.

The March 21 inspection revealed the return of water flowing from the falls, the restoration of vegetation and a return of wildlife to these areas.

Oliver Viado, chief of Protected Areas and Wildlife Division (PAWD), identified the specific areas closed for visitors as the Crystalline Falls, Suplina Falls, Kweba ng Dios Ama, Piangsualan, Tatlong Tangke, Kapatagan and Durungauan.