The office conducted its annual week-long Lenten Season Visitors Management Program last 24-31 March 2024, in partnership with various stakeholders and organizations surrounding the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve ASEAN Heritage Park (MMFR-AHP) including the LGUs of Los Banos, Bay, Calamba City, and Sto. Tomas City. The MIM program aims to increase visitors’ awareness and appreciation of the value of MMFR-AHP as well as promote sustainable and responsible tourism. It offers visitor activities like hiking, bird watching, picnic, camping and geocaching at various points along the Mariang Makiling Trail.
This year, an estimate of 4000 visitors hiked, trekked, and camped in Mount Makiling. They visited Flatrocks, Mudspring, Peak II and the Tayabak campsite. Highlighted in the event was the geocaching activity, or the high-tech egg hunting. Additionally, people were interested to see and witness the blooming season of Rafflesia. Along with the said activities, the MMFR’s Leave No Trace principle was properly implemented and observed.
Indeed, the success of the program was not possible without the help of its partners and volunteers. The management extends its gratitude and recognition to the members of Rescuekidz, Laguna Rescue, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office-Los Baños, Los Baños Municipal Office, the United Radio Organization & Communication-Laguna, the Los Baños Safety and Emergency Team, Inc., PNP Los Baños, 1st Laguna Provincial Mobile Force Company, Officials of Brgy. Bagong Silang, the LGUs of Los Baños, Calamba, Bay and Sto. Tomas City, Batangas and the Security and Safety Office of UPLB. The office also conveys its appreciation to the following sponsors: Toyota Batangas City, Inc., Metrobank Purple Hearts’ Club -Pusong Bayani Chapter, City Government of Calamba, Calamba Water District, ANDF3 Enterprises, Danielito’s Home Kitchen, Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau Cooperative, Makiling Forestry Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Mernel’s Cake, Batangas Paper Corporation, Ofelia’s Premium Kitchen, SIKAP BIDANI Development Foundation Inc., La Vista Pansol, NAN Foods Corporation, Maquiling Builder’s Depot, KIMKAT Enterprise, SOUTH Supermarket, PGPC and AP Renewables Inc. Thank you for visiting Mount Makiling and for making MIM a success every year! Come and visit again.
By: MRPGuab
