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By Antonio Colina IV

DIGOS City–The fire in the country’s highest peak yesterday continued to eat up areas of Mt. Apo, now estimated at over 200 hectares, including the mini-forest of the beautiful Lake Venado.

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Firefighters coming from different fire stations in the province have been dispatched to help contain the forest fire that hit Mt. Apo on Black Saturday.

Harry Camoro, provincial disaster riskeduction management officer, the forest fire already damaged over 200 hectares and could continue to destroy more if no immediate solution is undertaken.

Camoro said the fire started from the Kapatagan trail in Digos City and spread towards the side of Lake Venado.

Considered the highest peak in the country with an elevation of 2,954 meters, Mt Apo is one of the Philippines’ favorite tourist destinations and often visited during Holy Week.

Camoro said there were no reported injuries and nearly all of the 1,000 tourists who were on the mountain were evacuated by noon Sunday.

The forest fire is said to be a common occurrence especially when there is drought. The cause was still undetermined.

According to North Cotabato tourism officer Joey Recimilla, as of Sunday morning, the forest fire, which is only about two kilometers from Lake Venado, has continued to spread.

Lake Venado is adjacent to the reforestation sites in Makilala town.

If not contained, Recimilla expressed fear that the fire could penetrate the Kidapawan-Magpet-Makilala eco-triangle.

The Bureau of Fire Protection’s Special Rescue Unit has been dispatched to Mt. Apo to help put out the fire.

Bebot Elera, head of  the Digos City Tourism Office, said they met with BFP and other government officials on what steps they would take to contain the fire.

He said an aerial survey was scheduled to assess the extent of the damage caused by the fire which started at 1 pm on Black Saturday.

Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Guerrero, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said they dispatched an aircraft to check on the Mt. Apo fire with the head of the regional Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council  (DRRMC).

Elera said a group of porters and monitoring team of Digos Tourism saw a bush fire at the peak on Saturday but they failed to contain it until it grew out of hand.

Elera said the cause of fire cannot be determined yet.

He said there were no more climbers in any of the campsites.

Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has tasked the Central 911 to assist in containing the fire.

“Mt. Apo is not only a tourist spot, and adventure for taking selfies, but mountains and volcanoes with forests help manage the effects of climate change,” he said.

The mayor was reported to have suggested a long-term action on watershed management and forest protection especially in important watersheds like Mt. Apo.

“El Nino is undeniably here. We need less talk and more action to protect or enhance nature around us, since our survival depends on it, especially the rural poor,” he said.

Mary Ann Fuertes, Executive Director of the Interface Development Interventions (Idis). said what is happening at Mt. Apo is “a proof we, including nature, are all vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The prolonged dry season makes forests prone to fire.”

She called on Department of Environment and Natural Resources, local tourism offices, city and municipal authorities to take action in the protection and preservation of the country’s highest peak by assigning forest guards in all Mt. Apo trails and campsites.

Each climber pays P750 to P1,000 as entry/registration fee to the local government.

“There are no forest guards who monitor the movements of the climbers,” she said. (antonio colina IV)

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