STRICT RULES FOR MOUNT APO CLIMBERS
Davao City, Oct. 30, 1997 - A newly opened trail from Davao City to the Mount Apo peak was closed this week following improper use by careless mountaineers and amateur mountain climbers.
The new trail, which starts from Barangay Tamayong, Calinan District, was opened only last April. It had to be closed for rehabilitation and clean-up. The Tamayong trail is classified as the toughest of four trails to the peak of the Philippines' highest mountain.
The Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines reported in its evaluation for the month of October that some of the climbers who had used the Tamayong trail since April had violated the stringent rules meant to preserve the ecological balance of Mount Apo.
The report lambasts improperly trained climbers and native porters who had used soap and shampoo when washing in the mountain's waters, thus contaminating the lakes and rivers. Boulders and trees were also found defaced.
Local tourism officers led by Councilor Maybelle Robillo, chairman of the city council's Tourism Committee, vowed to prosecute mountaineers caught defacing and polluting Mount Apo .
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