A Manobo youth protects Mt. Apo

MANILA, Philippines - Working as a porter for trekkers in Mount Apo Natural Park for the past two years, Butchie Baylon has found a purpose deeper than what his job originally entailed. The son of Manobo parents hails from Bongolanon in Magpet, North Cotabato, a barangay at the foot of Mt. Apo, the ancestral home of the Manobo tribe. He carries the heavy bags of local and foreign tourists who come to conquer the highest peak of the Philippines, but he is not fazed by the exhausting job. “I get my energy from the mountain. It feels great every time I set foot on Mt. Apo. I am fascinated by the beautiful trees and wildlife that you cannot find elsewhere. It is a unique experience." Baylon’s interaction with the mountain became more meaningful when he joined a group that was organized for the protection and conservation of Mt. Apo. They were trained by the local government of Magpet to monitor human activities in the Park, and to collect garbage left by the climbers, among other duties. He was also assigned as one of the porters for the team from the USAID’s Philippine Environmental Governance Project (EcoGov2), the LGUs of Magpet, Kidapawan and Makilala whose boundaries extend to the Park, and staff from the Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) of DENR-Region 11 who were tasked to validate the Park’s proposed new zoning. Since Mt. Apo was declared as a Natural Park in 1993 “to secure its protection and conservation and those of the indigenous peoples and communities, as well as their culture and way of life," its management plan has yet to be updated to reflect the current state of its biodiversity. “This task cannot be done by the DENR alone," explained PASu Leonilo R. Rivera, “We needed the help of other stakeholders. That’s why we sought help from the indigenous peoples and the LGUs around the mountain, and secured the support of EcoGov whose technical expertise we sorely needed." The first recommendation of the EcoGov Project was to enforce a strict protection zone for areas that are more than 1,000 meters above sea level, or with more than 50 percent slope, and areas still covered by natural forests. These areas, which are potentially high in biodiversity, were surveyed by the validation team who were able to identify numerous endemic species of plants and trees. These findings will support the nomination of Mt. Apo Natural Park for inclusion in the list of World Heritage Sites promoted by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The results of the validation will be used as basis for a strengthened protection program for Mt. Apo. It will certainly inspire Baylon to get more involved. He has already been chosen as one of the scholars of Mount Apo Foundation Incorporated which funds the education of deserving members of the Manobo tribe. “I’m going to college. I hope that my education will help me protect Mt. Apo properly," Baylon eagerly states. He is confident that other Manobos will likewise protect and conserve the Park and the mountain that has been their home for as long as they can remember. - GMANews.TV