- it’s annual off season
By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – The Mt. Apo Natural Park (MANP) temporarily suspends all trekking and camping activities on its open trails from June 1 to August 31 as it begins its annual off-season.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources–11 announced on Monday, June 1, that the closure will be implemented simultaneously across the Davao Region and Soccsksargen.
According to the agency, the temporary suspension aims to support ecological recovery, reduce disaster risks, and strengthen the protection and conservation of Mt. Apo’s biodiversity.
“Hiking and camping activities are strictly prohibited during the closure period until further notice,” the DENR–11 said in a statement, adding that trekking activities are expected to resume on September 1, 2026.
The closure covers all established entry points to the country’s highest peak, including routes from Kidapawan City and the municipalities of Makilala and Magpet in North Cotabato, as well as Digos City and the municipalities of Bansalan and Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur.
The annual off-season is implemented under Resolution No. 08, Series of 2021, issued by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), the policy-making body responsible for overseeing Mt. Apo Natural Park.
PAMB said the closure allows the mountain ecosystem to recover from human activity and provides wildlife with a period of minimal disturbance within their natural habitats.
Mt. Apo Natural Park covers approximately 64,000 hectares across North Cotabato in Region 12 and Davao del Sur and Davao City in Region 11.
The protected area is home to diverse flora and fauna and is recognized as the highest mountain in the Philippines, standing 2,954 meters above sea level.
The park was declared a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System through Republic Act 9237 in 2003.
Meanwhile, DENR offices in Regions 11 and 12 conducted a simulation exercise on April 30 as part of preparations for Mt. Apo’s evaluation as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
According to DENR Soccsksargen, Mt. Apo Natural Park possesses significant geological, biological, and cultural features that meet UNESCO’s geopark criteria, with support from local government units, Indigenous Peoples communities, and barangay officials.
The official UNESCO validation mission is scheduled in August 2026 and will cover sites within Regions 11 and 12, including Mt. Apo Natural Park.
