BANAHAW SACRED SPOTS OFF-LIMITS FOR 5 YEARS
By Delfin T. Mallari Jr.
Inquirer News Service

LUCENA CITY, Quezon--Thousands of religious devotees and "thrill seekers" who traditionally climb Mount Banahaw during the Lenten season will be shocked to find that their regular routes to different sacred spots atop the mystical mountain are fenced with barbed wire.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has given her approval of the measure during her campaign sorties in Quezon province on Friday. The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), a multisectoral group tasked by the government with safeguarding the area, passed a resolution during a meeting here Tuesday, that would enforce a five-year closure of the Mounts Banahaw and San Cristobal Protected Landscape starting this Holy Week.

Emrich Borja, provincial environment and natural resources officer, stressed that the decision to close the mountains were the results of studies by all PAMB members. "If we will not enforce the closure order, what would happen next could be catastrophic not only to the environment but also to human lives," he said. He added: "But we will only close with barbed wire the usual routes and pathways."

Asked by reporters for her comments about the Mount Banahaw closure order, the President turned to her running mate, Senator Noli de Castro, whom she called an environmentalist, and urged him to give his "good opinion" on the matter. De Castro recalled that during his broadcasting days, the wanton destruction of Banahaw during the Lenten season had long been the target of complaints. He said the temporary closure of the mystical mountain was the correct move to save it from further destruction. "Kung tuluyang masisira, baka hindi na magmilagro, baka tuluyang magtampo." (If this happens, the mystery will end.)

The President did not object to De Castro's proposal.

During the Holy Week, thousands of pilgrims are expected to trek Banahaw, passing by the towns of Dolores, Sariaya, Lucban and Tayabas in Quezon, and Liliw, Majayjay and San Pablo City in Laguna province.

Last year, piles of trash and other traces of destructive practices were left by mountaineers and devotees. Volunteers collected and brought down from the mountain a total of 11 truckloads of garbage-plastic bags, Styrofor boxes and empty water bottles and canned food.

The PAMB officials said they would meet with religious leaders on March 17.

Manny Calayag, Dolores municipal and natural resources officer, said that if no legal question would arise from the closure order, the PAMB was ready to face the complainants in court.

Three children in Dolores town died from flash floods last year. Last Holy Week, Banahaw was hit by four forest fires believed caused by burning candles left unattended by pilgrims.

Several areas atop the mountain also showed signs of having been exploited by timber poachers.

The PAMB also requested the provincial police office and the military's Southern Luzon Command to assist in the implementation of the resolution.

Jay Lim, Tanggol Kalikasan community coordinator, warned mountaineers to follow the PAMB order and not cut new trails to avoid accidents. "They can't just make new routes, its too risky."

Calayag said true mountain devotees would still have other "puestos" in barangay Santa Lucia to pray and meditate.

Angeles Coronado, village chief of barangay Kinabuhayan, disclosed that his village was swamped with homosexuals of all kinds during Lent.

"They build huge tents surrounded by fence. From their looks and appearance, they are not religious devotees but pleasure seekers," he told the Inquirer.

[ BACK ]