Outside my window, I can see Mount Cristobal and behind it is Mount Banahaw. These are very important mountains because they are the watershed of the area around it, including my City.  Mount Banahaw is also considered a Holy Mountain.

On December 11, 2009, the Republic Act No. 9847 was approved in the Philippines.  This is an Act establishing Mount Banahaw and Mount Cristobal in the provinces of Laguna and Quezon as Protected Areas under the category of Protected Landscape.

This Republic Act protects 10,900 hectares of public land.  This RA 9847 means that the two mountains are National Parks and should be protected under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. They have to manage enforcement of laws, habitat and wildlife and protect the mountains from fires and pests.

It is sad that last Wednesday a large fire damaged about 50 hectares in the area near the adjoining peaks of the two mountains. According to the investigation, the fire could have been started by backpackers who violated a ban on going up Mount Banahaw.  This mountain is closed for preservation, which becomes a problem because it is a Holy Mountain. There are springs up in the mountain that are said to have curative powers.   Thousands of people people go on pilgrimages to the mountain specially as it gets closer to the Catholic Holy Week (mid-April this year).

Just this morning, there was news that the backpackers were brought down from the mountain and charges will be filed against them for going up the mountain which has been closed to trekkers up to February 2016.  There are just few areas in the foot of the mountain where people can go still go camping and go for their pilgrimage.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/587672/forest-fire-damages-mystic-mt-banahaw#ixzz2wf9I1DDQ