BUSINESS AT MAJESTIC MT. APO

There has been hundreds of articles about how majestic and beautiful Mt Apo is. This Davao's unique natural wonder is the Philippines' highest peak at 3,144 meters. Its base covers about 72,796 hectares of mountain ranges that extend from Davao City, Davao del Sur, Northern Cotabato, Bukidnon and Agusan del Sur to Misamis Oriental. Apo means "grandfather of all mountains". It is an inactive volcano with no recorded eruptions. Mount Apo's attractions are thundering waterfalls, rapids, lakes, geysers, sulphur pillars, primeval trees, endangered plant and animal species and a steaming blue lake.

Holy Week is a one of the best time for climbing Mt. Apo. I remembered that I was invited to climb Mt Apo several times in the past ; but I had to declined since I was told that I would need weeks of preparation which would include intensive exercise and jogging.

TOPOGRAPHY & GEOLOGY
The Mt. Apo Natural Park covers parcels of lands situated in the municipalities of Magpet and Makilala and City of Kidapawan in the Province of North Cotabato; municipalities of Bansalan and Sta. Cruz and City of Digos in the Province of Davao del Sur, and in the City of Davao, all in the Philippines.

The Mt. Apo , Mt. Sibulan and Mt. Talomo volcanic edifices are the major mountain ridges in the park. The peak of Mt. Apo has an altitude of 3,142 meters (10,311 feet) above sea level, the highest in the Philippines . The highest elelvation of Mt. Talomo is 2,674 meters above sea level while Mt. Sibulan has an elevation of around 1,322 meters above sea level.

Mt. Apo Natural Park has a typical volcanic terrain. Its features exhibited within the park area are cinder cones ( Mt. Talomo , Apo complex), volcanic plateaus (Todaya Plateau now known as Kapatagan) and breached craters.

ECONOMIC PROSPECTS
More than a million Filipinos from the three surrounding localities depend on Mt. Apo for livelihood, mostly from agriculture products due to its fertile slopes. Almost 50 percent of the park’s area has been converted into agricultural production.

Natural rubber is abundant on the mountain. In 2003, rubber was the top export earner for Mindanao, registering sales of US$44.2 million from production volume of 32.8 million kilograms. The mountain is ideal for the growth of rattan, one of the most sought materials for making furniture. About 10 percent of the total abaca production comes from Southern Mindanao. Majority of which is grown within the feet of Mount Apo.

Another product of Mount Apo’s generous soil is Abaca. The Philippine contribution of the export market of abaca fiber is about US$ 84 million. On the average, the farmer only gets 500 kilos per hectare per year but Southern Mindanao especially within the fields of Mount Apo hit 750 kilos per hectare per year although potential yield is at 3,000 kilos per hectare per year given the necessary and appropriate farm inputs.

Banana, another top exporter of Mindanao, also grows lavishly within its slopes. Aside from being traded in the market, the supply is sufficient enough to accommodate local consumption within the surrounding villages.

Mount Apo also emits sulfur from its summit. Sulfur is another commodity that is being harnessed and traded in the market.

Since Mount Apo is declared as a Natural Park, it is also one of the hot destinations for tourists. Although the National Government does not charge anything for climbing the mountain, the local villagers benefit by having day jobs such as trek guides and assistants. One trek guide/assistant could go as much as Php 300.00 - Php. 500.00 depending on how much stuff do they need to carry for you for the climb.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Mt. Apo is considered critical to the sustainable development of Mindanao because it is a vital watershed of major river systems that are sources of freshwater requirements for agricultural, domestic, and industrial users in Central and Southern Mindanao, specifically the provinces of North Cotabato and Davao Sur, and Davao City.

The Mount Apo Natural Park has also been subject to destructive uses that have severely compromised the ecology. Extensive illegal logging operations, indiscriminate extraction of non-timber forest products like rattan, wildlife poaching and even ranching have further eroded the pristine ecological value of the area.

Environmental consciousness has gained a foothold in both the public and private sectors. A number of initiatives have evolved to preserve and manage the nature park. What has developed is a menu of stakeholder approaches that respond to some specific aspect of biodiversity and sustainability issues. These include management zoning, resource assessment, resources protection/habitat preservation, habitat restoration, environmental awareness campaigns, and institutional support programs to enhance the capability of the different stakeholders.

Efforts to conserve Mt. Apo Natural Park (MANP) in South-Central Mindanao is getting a needed support which started with a workshop for MANP stakeholders under the aegis of the USAID-funded Philippine Environ-mental Governance Project (EcoGov), which is implemented with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Mount Apo is a symbol of Mindanao’s towering potential for growth. It reflects a diversified ecosystem that generates not only a source of food for the locals but livelihood as well.

(Joji Ilagan Bian is a strong and respected advocate for the development of the region. She is Chair of Joji Ilagan Foundation ( www.jojiilagancareercenter.com) ; President , Phil. Call Centers Alliance and Mindanao Tech Voc Schools Association; Mindanao Rep, Export Development Council .Email comments jojibian2@yahoo.com)