AN official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reiterated on Monday that pilgrims and nature lovers are not allowed in certain areas in Mount Banahaw during the Holy Week.
DENR Calabarzon Regional Executive Director Reynulfo Juan said certain areas are Mount Banahaw are also closed to trekkers.
Religious activities will be allowed only in designated portions of the protected area, he said.
All activities will be allowed areas in portions of Kinabuhayan and Santa Lucia, the official said.
Juan, concurrent chairman of the Protected Area Management Board of the Mounts Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape said that for the degraded portions to heal completely, certain areas would have to be restricted to human activities.
He said that human activity has caused the deterioration of the “holy mountain,” but closing it completely will be somewhat difficult since Mount Banahaw traditionally hosted cultural and religious practices for ages.
Juan has made several inspection visits to the mountain to monitor protection efforts and supervise the rehabilitation and refurbishing of the Protected Area Superintendent’s headquarters in barangay Kinabuhayan.
Jonathan L. Mayuga