Kidapawan City to build 7-km stairway to Mt. Apo's summit

The online news portal of TV5

KIDAPAWAN CITY - The Kidapawan City government is set to build a 16,620-step trail step - to be called "Hagdan ni Apo" - ascending to the peak of majestic Mt. Apo, to facilitate tourism while also discouraging the establishment of new, unsanctioned trails.

Apo's summit, the country's highest at 9,692 feet, overlooks the city 20 kilometers to the west.

The project, which was presented to the Kidapawan City Tourism Council and media last week by the city government's Investment and Tourism Promotions Office, would cost at least P2.5 million.

Tourism Officer Joey Recemilla said the trail steps would cover at least seven kilometers, starting from Barangay Ilomavis in Kidapawan City where the Mindanao Geothermal Production Field of the Energy Development Corporation is located.

As a safety feature, protective ropes will be included along the steps, said Recemilla.

Hanging bridge over Marble River

The city government is also set to build a hanging bridge across the Marble River, one of the longest rivers in North Cotabato.

"The project also includes the construction of state-of-the-art public rest rooms at the Marble River and Lake Venado," the plan shows.

The Welcome Center would be located at the entrance of the Mandarangan trail, one of the trails used by climbers to reach the summit. Plans also include the construction of a Research and Conservation Center in the area.

In North Cotabato, the Mt. Apo summit can be reached using trails from Kidapawan City and from towns of Makilala and Magpet.

The mountain is one of the most popular climbing destinations in the country.

"This time, we will make the tour to the peak a lot easier for tourists by constructing a permanent stairway," Recemilla said.

"Also, by building structures along the pathway leading to the peak, it would discourage tourists and local to create a new trail and other mode of activities that will further destroy the natural park. At least 64,053 hectares of the mountain is considered part of the Mount Apo Natural Park," explained Recemilla.

The project, said Recemilla, will strengthen the conservation and preservation of the mountain and at the same time, “bring economic gain in the local tourism industry” through jobs creation, livelihood projects, and increase in local taxes.

"It will also position Kidapawan City as a major tourism hub in North Cotabato and in the entire Central Mindanao," said Recemilla.

With initial funding of P1 million from the city LGU, Recemilla said work on the steps will begin "anytime soon."




Source: interAksyon