Banahaw bill awaits Malacañang approval

Lucena City , Philippines  – Several towns at the foot of Mount Banahaw in Dolores, Quezon have the reason to be happy these days because the Banahaw Bill is now in Malacañang awaiting the approval of President Arroyo.

The legendary sacred Mount Banahaw known for its beauty, flora and fauna and thousands of pilgrims was closed to mountain climbers and religious sects for five years due to the degradation of the surroundings. It was through the initiative of the Protected Area Management Board to temporarily close Mount Banahaw to regain and spruce up its beauty and maintain the cleanliness in the area.

According to Rep. Proceso Alcala (2nd District-Quezon), author of the Banahaw Bill, he moved for the passage of said bill to completely rehabilitate Mount Banahaw due to the garbage brought about by the influx of pilgrims and other mountaineers. He said that because of the five-year moratorium, Mount Banahaw will regain its beauty and will be free from garbage and foul smell and illegal loggers.

Alcala, however, urged people to cooperate with laws being implemented upon entering the place. Alcala furthered that in the bill, a tour guide will lead the mountaineers, or whoever would want to see the mountain and they will not allow people to go to the mountain on their own. Also, to help the people living at the foot of the said mountain, no hotel will be built but residents surrounding the mountain will offer their house for a temporary shelter to those who will stay overnight.

“It will be like Baguio City where residents offer their own homes with a low rent and safe environment, Alcala said” in an interview with The STAR.

During the past several years, Mount Banahaw was open to people especially during Lenten Season numbering about 10,000 to experience mountain climbing. Pilgrims and devotees stayed overnight to meditate.

It was learned that it will take three more years before Mount Banahaw will be open again to the general public and by that time, people are aware that PAMB and the local government of Dolores and other concerned groups will be implementing rules to protect the sacred mountain and its inhabitants as well as its forests.