DENR-Davao Files Legal Complaint Against Resort in Mt. Apo Natural Park
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)–Davao Region has initiated legal proceedings against an inland resort operating within the boundaries of Mt. Apo Natural Park. The complaint, filed on March 13, 2026, targets the resort located in Barangay Coronon, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, for alleged breaches of Republic Act No. 11038, known as the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (Expanded NIPAS) Act of 2018.
Specific Violations Cited in the Complaint
According to DENR-Davao, the resort is accused of violating Section 18(o) of the Expanded NIPAS Act, which strictly prohibits the construction, erection, or maintenance of any structure within a protected area without obtaining clearance from the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) and a permit from the DENR. Additionally, the agency cited a violation of Section 18(v) for the alleged construction of permanent structures within the 40-meter easement from the high-water mark of the Langan River, which flows through the protected zone.
The case was prepared in collaboration with the Mt. Apo Natural Park Protected Area Management Office (MANP-PAMO) and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) of Davao del Sur, underscoring a coordinated effort to enforce environmental laws.
More Resorts to Face Legal Actions
DENR-Davao has revealed that this complaint is merely the first in a series of planned legal actions against establishments operating illegally within the protected zone of Mt. Apo Natural Park. The agency disclosed that six more inland resorts in the same area are expected to face similar complaints, with cases currently being finalized for submission to the prosecutor's office.
Authorities stated that these legal measures follow the persistent non-compliance of resort operators who allegedly ignored Notices of Violation and Cease and Desist Orders (CDOs) issued as early as 2024. "Despite these directives, the operators reportedly continued their operations and failed to voluntarily dismantle their illegal structures," the agency emphasized in a press release dated March 12, 2026.
Enforcement of Protected Area Regulations
Mt. Apo Natural Park, encompassing areas around Mount Apo in Davao City, Davao del Sur, and North Cotabato, is a legislated protected area under the Expanded NIPAS Act. This law mandates that any construction or development activities within such zones require approval from the PAMB and permits from the DENR to preserve ecosystems and natural resources.
Environmental authorities have long enforced strict regulations against unregulated tourism facilities in the park to prevent degradation, particularly in riverine and forested areas that serve as critical habitats and watershed zones. In previous years, closure orders and dismantling directives have been issued against unauthorized structures and campsites found operating without permits or encroaching on environmentally sensitive areas.
DENR-Davao stressed that these enforcement actions are crucial to upholding the law and protecting the ecological integrity of the country's highest peak and its surrounding forests. The agency affirmed its commitment to working with prosecutors and other government offices to hold violators accountable while ensuring the protected landscape is safeguarded for future generations.
