Kabayan mayor re-opens Mount Pulag to tourists

CLOUD WATCHING. Trekkers reach the summit of Luzon's highest peak, Mount Pulag. The local government of Kabayan has opened the mountain to trekkers, three days after its closure due to the 2019 coronavirus disease scare. (PNA photo)

By Liza Agoot 

KABAYAN, Benguet -- Mount Pulag, the highest peak in Luzon in this town, has been re-opened to trekkers and resumed its operation as a hiking site.

Kabayan Mayor Faustino Aquisan told members of the media in Baguio he issued an executive order re-opening the mountain to tourism effective Feb. 27.

 Aquisan said they temporarily suspended all tourism and other similar activities in Kabayan due to the threat of Covid-19 virus last Feb. 24.

The closure was covered by Executive Order 19-2020 issued on Feb. 12.

"Among the tourist destination sa Benguet or Cordillera, ako ang pinaka last na nag-declare ng closure kasi yun naman ang hiling ng mga organizers. Bago ako nag-declare ng closure, kinunsulta ko muna sila sabi nila give us 10 days to inform our guests. Ang pinagkasunduan Feb. 24 (I was the last to declare a closure because the organizers asked to be given 10 days so that they can inform their guests. We agreed to close effective Feb. 24),” he said.

Following the joint memorandum of the Departments of Tourism, Interior and Local Government and Health, advising the local government units that it is discretionary on their part to decide whether to suspend, cancel crowd-drawing events, Aquisan decided to go to the ranger’s station and told them that the earlier EO has been lifted.

He said Mount Pulag was basically only closed for three days due to the Covid-19 and not because of the forest fire.

While they are opening the mountain to trekkers, he said precautionary measures, like the washing of hands, covering of mouth when coughing or sneezing and immediately informing the health authorities in case there are persons suspected of having Covid-19, will be implemented.

He said trekkers will be advised to bring any person who is sick to the nearest hospital, the Dennis Molintas Memorial Hospital near the ranger’s station in Bokod town.

Aquisan said around 200 to 300 trekkers arrive every weekend but only about 60 to 70 persons are allowed at the summit.

Even the camping sites are limited and are not allowed to be filled to the brim, as a preservation measure of the mountain.

In 2019, more than 48,000 trekkers visited Mount Pulag, Aquisan said. (PNA)