The Mount Apo Natural Park (MANP), home to the country’s highest peak, proudly marked its 22nd year as a legislated protected area on February 3, 2026, celebrating with large-scale environmental activities that highlighted collective action, ecological restoration, and Indigenous stewardship.
The commemoration honored Republic Act No. 9237, or the Mt. Apo Protected Area Act of 2003, a landmark law that institutionalized the protection of Mt. Apo—known to Indigenous communities as Apo Sandawa—as a national sanctuary for biodiversity and cultural heritage. The milestone brought together a broad alliance of stakeholders, including the Local Government Units of Makilala and Magpet, Energy Development Corporation (EDC), Manobo Apao Descendants Ancestral Domain of Mt. Apo (MADADMA), the 512th Engineering Brigade of the Philippine Army, DENR–PENRO Cotabato, and PACBRMA holders from Ilomavis, Balabag, and Perez in Kidapawan City.
A major highlight of the celebration was a tree-growing activity along the Mandangan Trail, where participants planted 250 seedlings of native and endemic species, including Casuarina equisetifolia (Agoho), Syzygium apoense (Magatungal), Dacrycarpus imbricatus (Igem), and Mastixia species (Kalisow). The activity aimed to rehabilitate forest sections damaged by the 2019 earthquake, restoring vegetation cover and strengthening the mountain’s resilience against erosion and climate-related threats.
Deputy Protected Area Superintendent Mary Eve Nachon expressed pride in the initiative, saying the tree-growing represents new life and renewed hope for greener and healthier slopes of Mount Apo, reflecting a shared commitment to protect the vital ecosystem that continues to sustain surrounding communities.
Complementing the reforestation effort, volunteers conducted a simultaneous clean-up drive within PACBRMA-managed zones and along the road from the Mandangan Monitoring Station to the Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) in Kidapawan City. The operation collected hundreds of kilograms of waste, including plastics, glass bottles, and other non-biodegradable materials, demonstrating the community’s dedication to keeping the protected area pristine.
The partnership between Indigenous groups, government agencies, local communities, and private stakeholders exemplifies the collaborative approach needed to preserve one of the Philippines’ most iconic natural landmarks. As Mount Apo continues to face challenges from climate change and human activity, the collective efforts of those who call its slopes home remain the strongest defense for its future.
For more stories about environmental conservation and community initiatives in Kidapawan City, visit phshirt.com.