Tourism halted at Mt. Sicapoo in Apayao as forest fires spread

CALANASAN, Apayao — Authorities on Tuesday started suspension of all tourism activities at Mt. Sicapoo after forest fires spread along its hiking trails, posing risks to visitors and the environment.

The affected site in Barangay Butao, a popular destination for hikers in Northern Luzon, was ordered closed as fires continue to move across sections of the trail, threatening public safety and forest cover.

Tourists and trekkers have been urged to defer travel plans and comply with the suspension.

This comes amid a spike in forest fire incidents also in Bontoc, Mt. Province’s capital town, where Mayor Franklin Chaokas Odsey warned that the situation has reached a critical level.

He said all 16 barangays in the Mt. Province capital have been affected, with cases rising in recent months.

The latest blaze on April 19 in Barangay Samoki spread dangerously close to residential areas.

Mr. Odsey has called for an emergency meeting on Wednesday, with barangay leaders, the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, and the Bontoc Fire Station to coordinate containment efforts.

He stressed the need for urgent collective action, warning that continued neglect could lead to irreversible damage to the town’s natural landscape. — Artemio A. Dumlao