The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Davao (DENR-Davao) has announced the annual three-month closure of the Mt. Apo Natural Park (MANP) from June to August 2026. In a Facebook post on June 1, 2026, DENR-Davao stated, “All trekking and camping activities are hereby prohibited until the closure is lifted.” The prohibition applies to all open trails in the Davao Region and Soccsksargen areas of the park.
Purpose of the Closure
The department emphasized that the closure is essential for rehabilitation, disaster prevention, biodiversity preservation and protection, and development. This measure aligns with PAMB-En Banc Resolution No. 08, series of 2021. The annual closure of Mt. Apo began in 2022 following the Mt. Apo Natural Park Protected Area Management Board (MANP-EMB) En Banc Resolution No. 06, series of 2021, which mandates a three-month yearly off-season for the area. Activities in MANP will resume automatically after the off-season period.
About Mt. Apo Natural Park
Mt. Apo is the highest peak in the Philippines, with an elevation of 2,954 meters above sea level. It covers a land area of 65,900.9 hectares and is geographically located between North Cotabato and the Davao Region. The mountain has been recognized as one of the heritage sites of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
MANP was declared a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act, or Republic Act No. 7586, enacted and approved on June 1, 1992, by former President Corazon C. Aquino. The area boasts 800 types of flora, of which 27 floral species have economic, cultural, and medicinal significance. Regarding fauna, there are about 272 types of birds and 54 species of mammals, including the national bird, the Philippine Eagle. In total, there are approximately 414 faunal species, with 207 endemic to MANP, while 146 faunal species and 27 floral species have economic and medicinal significance.
