DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Mt. Apo summit is burning.
Businessman Philip Dizon told Rappler his friend communicated to him late Saturday night, March 26, that the fire started at around 1 pm on Black Saturday along the blueberry area near the Mt Apo summit.
"As it is now, there are 5 fires all in one forest, Mt Apo," Dizon said.
Dizon quoted his friend Lito Esperal as saying, "We are now helping the mountaineers to evacuate to safer ground because the fire is moving towards the side of Lake Venado." Esperal was on Mt Apo on Saturday.
Considered the highest peak in the country with an elevation of 2,954 meters, Mt Apo is one of the Philippines' favorite tourist destinations. It is located 40 kilometers from Davao City and 20 kilometers from Kidapawan City.
Former Agham Representative Angelo Palmones, who is from Kidapawan City, also confirmed he received reports that "campers are already evacuated to Godigodi camp and Lake Venado."
Dizon said, "It is always like this every year, especially when there is drought, we do not have forest guards, I remember we have them, but I guess they are old now, and we do not have fire fighters there."
The cause of the fire was still undetermined as of this writing.
The implementation of the Comprehensive Management Plan for Mt Apo as mandated by the Writ of Kalikasan in 2014 is a "must" now, said Palmones.
Early March this year, Dizon lamented the failure of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to act on the continued burning of bushes in the villages located at the boundaries of Davao City and Davao del Sur.
The forest fires affected about 100 hectares in the highland prior to Saturday's afternoon fire.
As more details become available, we will be updating this story. – Editha Z. Caduaya/Rappler.com