Excerpt: Itogon has temporarily suspended trekking, camping, fun running, and other activities in several eco-tourism sites, including Mt. Ulap and Mt. Ugo, due to the risk of forest fires amid extreme heat conditions.
The Municipality of Itogon in Benguet has temporarily suspended trekking, camping, fun running, and other human activities in identified eco-tourism sites due to the heightened risk of forest fires amid extreme heat conditions.
The suspension is provided under Executive Order No. 21, Series of 2026, issued by the Office of the Municipal Mayor and signed by Itogon Mayor Bernard S. Waclin on April 20, 2026.
The order takes effect immediately and covers several mountain and eco-tourism destinations in the municipality.
According to the executive order, forest fires have recently been prevalent in Itogon because of the hot weather, destroying wide portions of mountain ranges in different barangays.
The municipal government also cited previous incidents where forest fires spread rapidly and gained intensity immediately, making suppression efforts extremely difficult and dangerous for firefighters, even with the use of air assets.
With extreme weather conditions characterized by a high heat index affecting the locality and the country in general, the order stated that eco-tourism sites in Itogon have become highly vulnerable to forest fires.
The municipal government said the temporary suspension is a preemptive measure to ensure the safety of foreign and local tourists, including residents, and to prevent loss of lives and injuries should fire incidents happen in areas where eco-tourism activities are usually held.
Under Section 1 of the executive order, the following activities are temporarily suspended in the covered eco-tourism sites:
The temporary suspension applies to the following eco-tourism sites in the Municipality of Itogon:
The Itogon Municipal Police Station, Bureau of Fire Protection, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and all barangay officials with jurisdiction over the identified sites have been directed to ensure full compliance with the order.
The Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, in coordination with the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and barangay officials, has also been directed to conduct continuing dialogues with the different barangays for the adoption and implementation of strategies to prevent forest and structural fires.
These efforts are part of the municipality’s measures to prevent fire incidents, especially during periods of intense heat when mountain areas and eco-tourism sites are more vulnerable.
Residents, tourists, hikers, outdoor groups, and organizers planning to visit or conduct activities in the covered areas are advised to take note of the temporary suspension and coordinate with local authorities for further updates.
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