Aerial shot of the fire in Mt. Apo in March 2016 (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Air Force Tactical Operations Group 11 and 305th Air Intelligence Service Squadron)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Ateneo de Davao University’s environmental advocacy arm Ecoteneo is set to conduct a fundraising bike-run event for the rehabilitation of the country’s highest mountain, Mt. Apo.
Dubbed as Ecoteneo enviRUNment, the event slated on October 21 is aimed to collect around P300,000 to cover the maintenance of the group’s adopted 1 hectare land parcel of Mt. Apo for three years.
In March 2016, a massive forest fire that lasted for almost two weeks ravaged about 111 hectares of forest cover on the mountain’s upper reaches. “Irresponsible” trekkers were said to be blamed by the tragedy.
“This is in response to the call for Mt. Apo’s rehabilitation especially after the fire and the premature re-opening of Mt. Apo,” Melai Santos, head of Ecoteneo, told Davao Today.
Santos stressed they are targeting about 1,000 participants in order to raise the said amount.
Participants will either traverse by foot or by bike the 3-5 kilometer route starting from Ateneo’s Matina campus to Jacinto campus. (davaotoday.com)
