Viral Portal News: Cristobal

Parts of Mounts Banahaw, Cristobal remain off-limits to trekkers until 2019

Unknown 7:11 AM 2019 , Banahaw , Cristobal , Mounts , offlimits , parts , remain , trekkers , Until

<ul><li style="text-align: justify;">DENR says parts of Mounts Banahaw and Cristobal will remain off-limits for three more years</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">The moratorium was agreed by majority members of PAMB through a resolution</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">The protected area spans 11,133.30 hectares straddling the provinces of Laguna and Quezon</li> </ul>The Department of Environment and natural Resources (DENR) said portions of Mounts Banahaw and Cristobal will remain off-limits to trekkers until February 19, 2019. The moratorium, which have been lifted this year, was made possible after majority of the members of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of Mount Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape agreed in passing a resolution on the continued moratorium on certain areas of Mounts Banahaw and Cristobal. An article which was written by  Virgil Lopez and published on <a href="http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/559701/news/regions/portions-of-mounts-banahaw-cristobal-off-limits-for-3-more-years">GMA News Online</a> identified the off-limit areas as those sites which starts in Kinabuhayan towards the approach to Kristalino Falls to Dungaw, to Tatlong Tangke and back to Kinabuhayan in Dolores, Quezon; and Puesto Pagbuga in Barangays Bugon and Bagong Ilaya in Barangay Concepcion, Pinagbakuran and Concepcion Banahaw on the side of Sariaya, Quezon. In addition to this,  the province of Laguna, parts of Barangay Bukal in Nagcarlan; Barangay Ilayang Sungi and Novaliches in Liliw; and Barangays Bukal and Taytay in Majayjay are also included in the off limits zone. The protected area spans 11,133.30 hectares straddling the provinces of Laguna and Quezon. DENR Calabarzon Regional Director Reynulfo Juan, also chairman of the PAMB revealed that some members proposed a shorter period of one year but agreed as one body that further preparations should be made before lifting the moratorium. Juan said the decision of the board was based on the members’ recommendation that preparedness in disaster risk reduction and management of the local government units, should first be assured. As disclosed by the environment official, the local government unit should come up with mechanisms to protect the area considering the fact that the municipality of Dolores in Quezon province is the most visited part of Mount Banahaw. Juan further said the Dolores side of the protected area, as well as the Lucban side, also in Quezon, are found to be highly susceptible to landslides, erosion, flash floods and fire. Juan said preparation is a must for the concerned LGUs particularly in the strict implementation of the “carrying capacity” or limiting the number of persons at one time within a specific site, in “puestos” or pilgrim sites. As such, he cited that a visitor management scheme should be in place to assure safety of guests. Further recommendation was made by the PAMB to include continued conduct of biodiversity monitoring and assessment and water quality monitoring. Gene Beloso of the Quezon Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office said that while he favors the extension of the moratorium for another year, the PAMB should prepare for its lifting. Beloso said the need for thorough and rigid assessment of the resultant effect of the closure and if the reasons for its closure, since 2004, such as water quality or presence of coliform and other contaminants, and other factors have already been resolved. Meanwhile, Oliver Viado, chief of DENR-Calabarzon’s Conservation and Development Division expressed optimism that the assessment on biodiversity and preparation of the PAMB and stakeholders in the implementation of the management plan for the protected area, specifically in the multiple use zones and in the strict protection zones, can be completed in a span of one year. <a href="http://kickerdaily.com/parts-of-mounts-banahaw-cristobal-remain-off-limits-trekkers-until-2019/" rel="nofollow">Kicker Daily News</a>

DENR says parts of Mounts Banahaw and Cristobal will remain off-limits for three more years The moratorium was agreed by majority members of...