Bukidnon gov hails DENR for its role in Mt. Kitanglad’s international recognition

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon, June 17 – Incumbent Bukidnon Governor Jose Ma. Zubiri on Thursday afternoon hailed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for its role in Mt. Kitanglad’s international recognition by foreign scientists.

In a courtesy call here by representatives from the DENR Central Office based in Quezon City, Zubiri relayed his congratulatory remarks to DENR Secretary Horacio Ramos.

Zubiri said the townsfolk here together with the indigenous people called “Lumad” are helping preserve the 30,642 hectare-Mount Kitanglad which is the pride of Northern Mindanao.

The governor said the provincial government spent P1.7 million in protecting the mountain from illegal loggers.

“We spend the money for the salaries of the Lumads who work as forest rangers who are also known as Kitanglad Volunteer Guards (KGVs) and maintenance of the mountain,” Zubiri said.

The mountain was declared an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Heritage Park and cited by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Culture Organization (UNESCO) world heritage site last May.

The declaration of Mount Kitanglad Range Protected Area was done on December 11, 2009 during the annual meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministers of environment in Singapore.

Mt. Kitanglad range contains a wide range of biodiversity and is one of the priority protected areas in the Philippines established by law.

It is also the third declared ASEAN Heritage Park in the Philippines, after Mt. Apo in Davao and Mt. Iglit-Baco in Mindoro Oriental.

Mt. Kitanglad has an area of 30,642 hectares and covers seven municipalities and one city in the province of Bukidnon, namely Talakag, Baungon, Libona, Manolo Fortich, Sumilao, Lantapan, Impasug-ong and Malaybalay City.

It was declared as a protected area in 2000 by virtue of Republic Act No. 8978.

Mt. Kitanglad is the third highest peak in the Philippines after Mount Apo in Davao in Southern Mindanao Region and Mt. Iglit-Baco in Oriental Mindoro. (PNA) LAP/JCA

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