Mt. Banahaw protected landscape closed for 3 more years

Dolores, Quezon, Philippines  – The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) has passed a resolution extending for another three years the closure of the Mt. Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape to continue its rehabilitation and conservation of habitats and biodiversity.

In a meeting last Thursday in Barangay Kinabuhayan this town, members and representatives of the PAMB agreed to close Mt. Banahaw to mountaineers and religious groups planning to conduct activities at the so-called “Holy Mountain’’ this coming Lent.

“The area will continue to undergo massive reforestation to bring back its former grandeur,’’ said Sally Pangan of the PAMB.

PAMB representatives hail from areas having jurisdiction over Mt. Banahaw such Tayabas, Sariaya, Candelaria, Majayjay, Nagcarlan, Liliw and Rizal towns and San Pablo City, all in Laguna, and Dolores town in Quezon.

The meeting focused on various programs on how to protect Mt. Banahaw, which is usually visited by pilgrims and mountaineers during the Holy Week.

The Ecosystem Research Bureau headed by Dr. Lope Calanog will spearhead the program called “Eco-Tourism for Mt. Banahaw’’ aimed at identifying the potentials of its geographical area.

Calanog said they would also assess the mountain’s biodiversity.

Banahaw and San Cristobal have been declared protected areas under Republic Act 9847.