This summer, join trek to Mt. Pinatubo

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Tired of the beach and swimming pools in resorts? This summer, why not go on an adventure?

Gov. Mark Lapid’s suggestion: climb Mt. Pinatubo via a new trail leading to the breathtaking Miyamit Falls and Porac Peak, which gives a spectacular view of Central Luzon, and then to the serene crater of the volcano which, in 1991, unleashed one of modern’s history’s most destructive eruptions.

Lapid said the provincial tourism council is again promoting the Pinatubo trek to foreign and domestic tourists, this time via the new trail put up in Porac town last year.

Dubbed as the 2nd Mt. Pinatubo Adventure, the tourism project will be launched in the third week of April with Lapid leading the trekkers via the 28-kilometer trail that starts in Barangay Sapang Uwak. 

Last year, he led some 200 trekkers to the summit of Mt. Pinatubo via the same new route, an alternative to the longer trail via Bamban, Tarlac.

"This time, though, trekkers have the choice of starting their climb from either Sapang Uwak or the so-called Apu Mallari gate in Barangay Mancatian, also in Porac," he said.

Last Saturday, Lapid presided over a meeting of the provincial tourism council, the Pampanga Off-Roaders Club (PORC), and other groups involved in promoting treks to Mt. Pinatubo to finalize plans for the 2nd Mt. Pinatubo Adventure.

The groups tackled safety measures for the participants as well as for those who might be interested in going to Mt. Pinatubo via the Porac route this summer.

Authorities, however, ban treks to Mt. Pinatubo during inclement weather.

"The journey to Mt. Pinatubo is not that easy; the trekker should be physically equipped and have a high level of endurance when it comes to this type of adventure. But climbers inevitably end up with a sense of pride," said PORC’s Marnie Castro.

Benito Malig, of the Porac municipal engineer’s office, said he and his men would ensure the safety and stability of the roads leading to Mt. Pinatubo.

He disclosed that an even shorter route to the volcano’s crater, also via Porac, is being explored.

According to experts of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the tons of volcanic debris on the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo have cooled down and have given way to some vegetation.

In some areas on the Pinatubo slopes, local folk have put up hot spring resorts and lodging facilities.