Mt. Apo re-opened anew to tourists, mountaineers

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines - The city government reopened Monday for the October 2013 trek season all trails leading to Mt. Apo, unfazed by security concerns besetting surrounding areas where communist rebels and brigand Moro forces have been launching attacks.

Joey Recemilla, Kidapawan City’s tourism officer, said mountaineers are assured of their safety while at Mt. Apo owing to its distance from areas where there are recurring hostilities between government forces and either the New People’s Army, or the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Recemilla said the periphery of Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak at 9, 692 feet above sea level, which has vast rain forests teeming with wildlife, such as the rare Philippine Eagle, is also too far away from Central Mindanao towns where there are members of the Moro National Liberation Front loyal to Nur Misuari.

“Kidapawan City is thriving in peace. Local and foreign tourists are safe
here, assured of protection from the local communities and authorities,” Recemilla said.

An official of the local disaster risk reduction and management council, Psalmer Bernalte, had told reporters that one look at Mindanao’s map, mountaineers will know that Kidapawan City, the gateway to Mt. Apo, is far from conflict zones.

Bernalte said barangay officials in tribal enclaves at Mt. Apo are also ready to cooperate with authorities in ensuring the safety of mountaineers.

Thousands of sportsmen, survivalists, and tourists trek to Mt. Apo during three annual climbing seasons.

Recemilla said they are expecting no fewer than 1,500 climbers to trail  the uphill routes to the crest of Mt. Apo in this month’s climbing season, dubbed “Octo Trek”.