DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The first-ever joint cleanup of the Mt. Apo Natural Park yielded at least 420 kilograms of garbage last week.
Joining the three-day effort were over 300 volunteers from the local governments of Kidapawan City in North Cotabato, Digos City and the towns of Bansalan and Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur, and Davao City.
The activity was part of the advocacy of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Protected Area Management Board for the mountaineering community to climb responsibly and free Mt. Apo of garbage, which has been a perennial problem in the past years.
With the huge trash yield, Kidapawan City officials warned of tighter regulations to curb wanton disposal of garbage during the next trekking seasons. – Edith Regalado, John Unson