The Mount Apo Rural Park

Overview of the Park

Historical Perspective and Land Area

On May 9, 1936 , Mt. Apo was declared as National Park by President Manuel L. Quezon through Presidential Proclamation No. 59 with an aggregate area of 76,900 hectares. On May 5, 1957 , President Carlos P. Garcia issued Proclamation No. 413 which amended Proclamation No. 59 and converted some 3,946 hectares into agricultural areas - reducing the park's land area to 72,954 hectares. Another 140.41 hectares were sliced-out for agricultural purposes in July 28, 1965 by virtue of Proclamation 424 - reducing the park's land area to 72,813 hectares. In December 16, 1965 President Diosdado Macapagal issued an amendment to Proclamation No. 59 through Proclamation 507-A which limit Mt. Apo 's permanent forest reserve to 33,736 hectares. Proclamation 507-A was revoked by President Ferdinand Marcos through Proclamation 35 dated May 8,1966 and restored Mt. Apo 's land area to 72,813 hectares. In March 29, 1983 Proclamation 2282 of President Ferdinand E. Marcos declared some 44,771 hectares of the park as alienable and disposable which decreased the park's land area to 25,041 hectares. However in June 17, 1986 Presidential Memorandum Order 17 of President Corazon C. Aquino reverted the alienable and disposable portions back to the park. Under Proclamation 853 issued by President Corazon C. Aquino on January 30, 1992 , 701 hectares was excluded from the park as geothermal reservation reducing the park area to 72,112 hectares. On September 24, 1996 , President Fidel Ramos issued Proclamation 882 declaring Mt.Apo as protected area under the category of natural park. Under Republic Act 9237otherwise known as Mt. Apo Protected Area Act of 2003, the effective park area was reduced to 54,974 hectares because peripheral areas of the park were established as buffer zones.

Location and Elevation

The Mt. Apo Natural Park covers parcels of lands situated in the municipalities of Magpet and Makilala and City of Kidapawan in the Province of North Cotabato; municipalities of Bansalan and Sta. Cruz and City of Digos in the Province of Davao del Sur, and in the City of Davao, all in the Philippines.

The Mt. Apo , Mt. Sibulan and Mt. Talomo volcanic edifices are the major mountain ridges in the park. The peak of Mt. Apo has an altitude of 3,142 meters (10,311 feet) above sea level, the highest in the Philippines . The highest elelvation of Mt. Talomo is 2,674 meters above sea level while Mt. Sibulan has an elevation of around 1,322 meters above sea level.

Physical Features

Topography - Mt. Apo Natural Park has a typical volcanic terrain. Its features exhibited within the park area are cinder cones ( Mt. Talomo , Apo complex), volcanic plateaus (Todaya Plateau now known as Kapatagan) and breached craters.

Geology - Mt. Apo or the Apo volcanic complex forms part of the Central Mindanao Cordillera and constitute the southern end of a north to south trending belt of Pliocene Quaternary volcanoes. Three (3) quaternary strata-volcanoes coalesce in the area; these are the Mts. Sibulan, Talomo, and Apo . The Pliocene Quaternary is volcanic flows and pyroclastic rocks chiefly agglomerate and tuff that underlie the broad slopes of non-active volcanic cones. The non-active volcanic cones are composed of generally pyroexene andesite and desite and or andesite plug. Mt. Apo is rich with minerals such as sulfur (which is considered by the IP`s or Lumads as having medicinal values), copper, and coal. Mt. Apo has many waterfalls and mountain lakes; the most famous of which are Lake Agco and Lake Venado at the foot of Mt. Apo . The most scenic waterfalls are the Todaya falls in Sibulan, Sta. Cruz, and the Mabbu falls and Tagibaka falls at Bongolanon, Magpet, Cotabato. A number of hot springs also abound in the park and are potential sites for eco-tourism development projects. Examples are the Batasan Hotspring at Makilala, Cotabato province, Palaca Hotspring at Sibulan, Mainit Hot Spring in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, the Lake Agco at Ilomavis, Kidapawan City , Cotabato province and the Mainit and Marauer hot springs in Kapatagan, Davao del Sur.

Climate - Mt. Apo generally enjoys tropical rainy climate. It falls under the Type IV climate under the modified corona's classification wherein rainfall is relatively distributed throughout the year. Mean monthly temperature ranges from a low 26.4 o C during January to 27.9 o C during April. Monthly relative humidity ranges from 78% during March and April and 82% during June and July.

Hydrology - Mt. Apo is the watershed of over 19 river systems located in Davao City , Davao del Sur, Bukidnon and Cotabato.The northern and western areas of the park are part of the catchment basin of the Mindanao River . This river system drains through the Liguasan Marsh and Cotabato Valley in the Moro Gulf . Rivers and streams in Mt. Apo that belong to this system are the Kabacan, Marbel, Matingao, Mateo and Saguing rivers. The southern sector of Mt. Apo is a part of the Padada watershed. Major tributaries of the Padada River on the southern side of Mt. Apo include the Bulatukan, Miral and Marber rivers. On the eastern side of the Park are the following river networks: (1) the Balutakay, (2) Digos, (3) Tagulaya-Sibulan, Lipadas, Talomo, (4) Matina, and (5) the headwater tributaries of the Davao river. They all drain to Davao Gulf . Drainage pattern within the park varies from radial around Mt. Talomo and Mt. Sibulan to sub-parallel in other areas. Around Mt. Talomo and Mt. Sibulan river channels and gullies are relatively deeper compared to other areas on the western side.

Soils - The soil in the park is of clay-loam fertile volcanic soil and Miral type classification (Wildfood Plants in the Protected Areas of the Philippines ). Pedological data within Mt. Apo Natural Park are limited to the result of a study done by the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) in 1991. Based on the study, the soil types identified in the Cotabato area belong to the Kidapawan soil series and unnamed soil series of silt loam to clay loam. The Kidapawan series covers slopes of 3% to 8% while the unnamed soil series covers slopes of 40% to 80%. The Kidapawan series are characterized with moderate water erosion hazard while the unnamed series is vulnerable to very high water-induced erosion . In forested areas, soils commonly have high organic matter content because of the abundance of vegetation litter. These areas are mostly covered with dense and mixed species of plants primarily due to high level of humus. However in steep and dissected uplands, with the absence of vegetative cover, the surface layer is unstable and subject to active erosion. Soils in these areas are of medium texture (silt loam) and considered highly prone to erosion because the size of the silt particles is optimum for detachment and transportation by water moving over the soil surface. This is the case in the southern portions of Mt. Apo particularly in Bansalan and Digos where more than seventy percent of the area has been deforested. Topsoils are now very shallow and hold little water.

Biological Features

Grasslands - The grasslands are characterized by the dominance of Cogon grass Imperata cylindrica and Saccharum spontaneum. Other grasses and ferns also thrive, especially along banks of creeks, streams, and rivers and on steep slopes Lowland forest or lowland evergreen - Elevation ranges up to 1,200 masl covered by multistrata rainforest with closed canopy ranging from 10-20 meters high. Dominated by Dipterocarps such as lauan, apitong and guijo , Syzygium sp. like malaruhat, lumboy-lumboy, ulayan (Lithocarpus), kalingag (Cinnamomum) and lesser important ones like Arthocarps, Canarium, Aglalia etc. Dominant epipytes include ferns orchids waling-waling (Vanda sanderiana) now endangered, rattan and others. Portion of the park is covered by secondary forest and open cultivated and denuded areas. Representative sites of this type of habitat were conducted at Baracatan, Toril Davao City and the MKWD reservation at Perez, Kidapawan city. These are the only remaining known intact habitat of this type in Mt. Apo Natural Park

Montane or Low Montane - Ranges from 1,200 masl, the vegetative growth becomes lower in stature and is dominated by lauag-lauigan (Syzygium), banyas ( Dacrycarpus) and species of igem ( Podocarpus) and ulayan tindog ( Lithocarpus) . With increasing altitude, angiosperms , tree ferns, Pandanus and rattan become abundant. Dominant species are the endemic almaciga ( Agathis philippinensis) (vulnerable PASA list), almon ( Shorea almon), Terrstonia sp., ulayan (Lithocarpus sp) . , igem (Dacrycarpus sp .) and tinikiran (Leptospernum sp .).

Mossy Forest or High Montane - Elevation range from 1800 masl up to about 2,600 masl characterized by high density and high diversity of mosses, hepatics, and liverwort and epiphytes . At elevations higher than 2400 masl, the trees take a stunted appearance and the vegetation is more open, "Elfin Woodland". High elevation grassland is also found in this area.

Summit or Scrub - Elevation greater than 2,700 masl on steep walls of fumaroles includes sedges, Cyperaceae and fern, Gleichemia decarpa , Ericaceae such species of Rhododendron and Vaccicium . Highest recorded elevation taken at the summit was 2,930 masl, however resource inventory reading on three different occasions had the highest GPS reading of 3,300 masl. Mt. Apo Peak is the largest in area if not the only habitat of this type in the Philippines . However, the uncontrolled trekking activities of tourist pose a danger and may lead to the destruction of this habitat.

Lakes - There are four major lakes in Mt. Apo . Popular of these are Lake Agco , used to be called "The Blue Lake" and Lake Venado , a famous mountaineers camping site and a stopover towards the peak. Lake Macadac and Lake Jordan are found in the summit grassland.

Rivers - Mt. Apo has 19 major rivers and 21 creeks draining its 8 major watersheds (PASAlist.1992). Out of the 19 major rivers, only two has studies as reported by SEA-BMB consultants for the Mt. Apo Geothermal Project Environmental Impact Assessment 1991. According to the report, there are two river ecosystems draining the geothermal site namely: (1) Marbel-Matingao river ecosystem- characterized by narrower river channels at highly elevated areas, much faster water flow, clearer water and rock boulder-rich water beds. The aquatic organisms in the area have expectedly lower biological productivity and species diversity. The report also concluded that this river ecosystem provides much less economic and commercial value for its biological production. The study identified 12 species of fish caught in the area; (2) Kabacan- Pulangi river ecosystem- characterized by a much wider channels at flat areas, relatively much slower water flow, highly turbid waters and sandy mud river beds.

Flora - Eight hundred (800) estimated vascular and non vascular plant species, among Mt. Apo 's endemics collected between 300 masl and 1000 masl are members of the genera Pipturus, Sauravia and Poikilospermum. Humalanthus populneus, Elephantopus spicatus, Piper apoanum and Vanda sanderiana maybe extinct in the wild (Madulid and Agoo. 1991). Endemic at the mid altitudes include Agathis philippensis, Lithocarpus submonticolus (endangered ), and Peperonia elmeri (endangered). Upper montane endemics are Cypholopus microphyllus and Nepenthus copelandi. Actual resource inventory collected data on five representative habitats. A total of 126 floral species was recorded, 50 are considered endemic to Mt. Apo or the Mindanao Faunal Region. These are almaciga, almon, waling-waling,igem, kalantas,. mindanao kalingag, apo bubonan ( Aglaia apoena) and other species; 18 species are considered to be at risk (e.g. waling-waling, kalantas including a rattan species ( Plectocomia elmerii), puhutan ( Mangifera altissima) , Shorea sp . like almon, mayapis, malaanonang, narig, guijo ; 37 species are considered to have economic, cultural and medicinal importance. Most species are used for construction either light or heavy, these include Shorea sp. like lauaan, guijo, apitong, and Bambusa sp. like buho and bagakay; as fibers like wild abaka ( Musa sp .), for baskets and containers (rattan and pandan), food for wildlife like balite ( Ficus sp.), kalingag ( Cinnamommum mercadoii and mindanensis) , ulayan ( Lithocarpus sp.) etc; and other medicinal plants like wild betel nut ( Areco caliso) , saging bundok ( Musa balbasiana) , kalingag, hagimit ( Ficus sp.) , hamindang ( Macaranga bicolor) .

Fauna - According to previous studies conducted, there are 272 species of birds, 40% of these or 111 are endemic to Mt. Apo . Of all species recorded, 2 are in the critical list: Philippine Eagle ( Pthecophaga jefferyi) and abukay ( Cacatua heamatopygia); 10 are endangered species among these are: Mindanao scoops owl ( Otus mirus) , lesser eagle owl (Bobu philippensis) , Mindanao lorikeet (Tricoglosus johnstoniae) , whritted hornbill (Aceros leucocephalus ); 20 vulnerable and 20 are near threatened . 96 species were identified to have both cultural and economic importance to nearby communities or communities within MANP. Most recorded uses of bird species based on focused group discussions with some community members are for food, seed dispersal and omens observed by the cultural communities (doves and pigeons).

Mammalian diversity has a total of 53 species, 49% are endemic: tudaya giant rat (Bollimus bagobos) , wild pig ( Sus phillippinensis , tarsier ( Tarsius syricta) , ( Acerodon jubatus ); 3 are listed as threatened: tree shrew ( Urogale Everetti) , Acerodon jubatus , and Phil. Brown deer ( Cervus marianus); and 26 were found out to have economic and cultural values. Most are utilized for food as protein source, extracts from hoofs and toes are common remedy for stomachache, omens observed during rituals and farming practices and the dispersal of seeds as important ecological values.
There are at least 53 species of Herpetofauna recorded. This include17 species of amphibians and 36 species of reptile; 10 (36%) are restricted to the Mindanao faunal region: bak-bac ( Rana magna), lokwak-manobo ( Ansonia mcgregorii) , "tok-tok"manobo ( Kalaula picta) , cobra ( Naja samarensis ) In general, population and conservation status are poorly known and studied; 3 are on the critical list: ibid (Hydrosaurus pustulatus) , halo and turtle ( Cuora ambionensis) turtle. A total of 24 species are known to be with local and cultural use. Most are for food, bait for fish, asthma and other respiratory remedies, bad omen eg. halo ( Varanus salvator o) and as a very important indicator of habitat condition.

Population

Mt. Apo has a total of thirty- nine (39) barangay communities residing within the park. The 1997 unvalidated census and registration showed a population of 25,252 individuals, distributed in some 6,845 households. Of this household count, 2,232 (33%) are indigents - including a number of migrating IPs' to the area. Nearly one and a half percent (1.49%) also include some migrating Muslims. The bulk of the population by household comprises migrants, coming mostly from the Visayas region and a few from Luzon and Mindanao itself. Social groupings among Mt. Apo occupants are generally sectoral in nature. These include organization of farmers; church and tribe-based; youth and women. In some areas, loose groupings are also notable, majority were organized as beneficiaries of a project like water system and livestock dispersal. At least ten (10) religious affiliations bond the park occupants. This is dominated by the Roman Catholic, followed by Iglesia ni Cristo; Seventh Day Adventist; Baptist; Four Square; Methodist; CAMACOP (Alliance); UCCP, Islam and Alpha Omega.
The Bagobos, Manobos and Klata tribes consider Mt. Apo as their ancestral domain and their home since time immemorial. These tribes have lived around this mountain that they also consider as sacred ground, their place of worship and burial ground of Apo Sandawa, their great forefather. A number of genealogies of known Lumad leaders in South Central Mindanao trace their roots to Mt. Apo . For the Lumads, the term Apo was coined from the name of their great grandparent Apo Sandawa. Mt. Apo is the wellspring of their spiritual and cultural way of life, source of food and medicine.

Many of the tribal communities have been culturally assimilated. Except for a few communities in Magpet, Kidapawan, Makilala and Sta. Cruz less and less traditional tribal communities can be found living in the park. Nonetheless, many of the IP- inhabited barangays still maintain the traditional political structures called the Tribal Council or Council of Elders. However the matters that these councils have jurisdiction have been significantly altered over time. Instead, the local government structures of Barangay Council and Lupong Tagapamayapa have taken over many of the matters that used to be decided by the elders. In several of the municipalities, tribal communities have been organized according to the geo-political divisions and have been accredited with the municipal local government.

Source: (a) Leonilo R. Rivera, PAWB Cheif, DENR Region XII; (b) Mt. Apo - MANP Management Plan