NATURE TREKKING OR AIDED CLIMBING?

(photo caption: These logs used in crossing Marbol River will be replaced by concrete bridges in the proposed Hagdan ni Apo project. photo provided by Magpet LGU)

There are two groups engaged in the heated debate over the proposed 7-kilometer concrete stairway from Lake Agco all the way up to the peak of Mt. Apo, the country’s highest mountain and one of the last rainforests in the country.

One follower of this page, Claro Comoda, clearly stated the position of the environmentalists when he said: ” Preserve the mountains, leave it as is. If you can’t climb it, stay at home.”

But there are others who have a different view.

Kidapawan city tourism officer Joey Recimilla, the main proponent of the project said: “we will make the tour to the peak a lot easier for tourists by constructing a permanent stairway.”

“Also, by building structures along the pathway leading to the peak, it would discourage tourists and local to create a new trail and other mode of activities that will further destroy the natural park. At least 64,053 hectares of the mountain is considered part of the Mount Apo Natural Park,” he explained.

Both views have good points.

Unfortunately, the second view which was presented by Joey Recimilla, is more anchored on a well-managed tourism activity in the mountain.

It failed to consider that by constructing the concrete stairway and building other concrete structures along the way, it will alter the natural beauty of the mountain.

There is no amount of money to be earned to justify the destruction of this beautiful mountain.

We have already ceded 701 hectares to the geothermal project in the name of development. That should be enough.

Let us protect the remaining part of Mt. Apo in North Cotabato knowing fully well that at the other side of the mountain, vegetable farms and resorts have already crept up to the critical parts of the mountain in the Davao del Sur side.

Not all of us can fly planes, not all of us can dive into the depths of the oceans and certainly not all of us could climb mountains.

We cannot possibly sacrifice the beauty of Mt. Apo just to help those who find it difficult to climb mountains.