ILOILO – The local government unit (LGU) of Igbaras town said hiking and trekking activities on Mt. Napulak are safe and permitted.
This announcement follows a fire that affected parts of the mountain on the evening of Feb. 23. The blaze began in a portion of Barangay Corucuan and spread to areas covering the boundaries of barangays Tigbanaba, Lab-on and Bagay.
Mt. Napulak, a prominent tourist attraction in Igbaras, stands at 1,239 meters and requires several hours of climbing to reach the peak. It is especially popular during the Lent Season.
Mayor Juvic Escorpion said the fire has not spread to other parts of the mountain, particularly the trails used by hikers to reach the peak, as there is no longer any combustible material left.
Following a safety declaration, the LGU, along with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), conducted an on-site inspection and aerial survey.
Escorpion also convened an emergency meeting to discuss measures to prevent future fires.
Recommendations from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) included reorganizing or reviving the Bantay Gubat (Forest Rangers) to monitor hiker activities and protect the forest, especially during the summer months.
The disposal of cigarette butts in the area is specifically prohibited.
Escorpion noted that forest fires during the summer are not uncommon for the residents of Mt. Napulak.
While the BFP has yet to determine the cause of the fire, it is suspected to have started from a discarded cigarette butt.
The fire is estimated to have affected 11 to 16 hectares.
In light of the recent fire, Mayor Escorpion has appealed to hikers to assist in protecting Mt. Napulak to prevent future incidents./PN
