MOUNT Apo (DENR photo)
By Ivy Tejano
Published Jun 1, 2026 10:53 pm
DAVAO CITY – Mount Apo Natural Park (MANP) is closed to all trekking and camping activities from June 1 to Aug. 31.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-11 announced on Monday that suspension of access will be implemented simultaneously in Davao region and Socsksargen.
According to the DENR-11, the measure is intended to support ecological recovery, disaster risk reduction, and the continued protection and conservation of Mount Apo's biodiversity.
"Hiking and camping activities are strictly prohibited during the closure period until further notice," the DENR-11 said, adding that trekking activities will most likely resume on Sept. 1.
Affected access routes are Kidapawan City and the municipalities of Makilala and Magpet in North Cotabato as well as Digos City and the towns of Bansalan and Santa Cruz in Davao del Sur.
The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), which oversees policy directions for Mount Apo, enforces the yearly off-season under Resolution No. 8, Series of 2021.
PAMB said the initiative is designed to allow the mountain ecosystem to recover and minimize human disturbance, giving wildlife a period of undisturbed habitat.
Mount Apo Natural Park spans around 64,000 hectares in Cotabato in Region 12 and Davao del Sur and Davao City in Region 11. It is recognized as the country's highest peak, rising 2,954 meters above sea level.
Government officially declared the area as a protected zone and part of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) through Republic Act 9237 in 2003.
DENR offices in Regions 11 and 12 conducted a simulation exercise on April 30 as part of preparations for Mount Apo's evaluation as a United Nations, Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Global Geopark.
MANP combines key geological, biological, and cultural features that meet UNESCO's geopark standards, and is supported by local governments, Indigenous leaders, and barangay officials.
The official UNESCO validation visit is scheduled for August and will cover areas within Regions 11 and 12, including Mount Apo Natural Park, the DENR-Socsksargen said.
