COTABATO – The Mt. Apo Natural Park–Protected Area Management Office (MANP-PAMO) has initiated the formulation of a two-year phase-out plan for anthurium and other crops cultivated within the park’s Strict Protection Zone (SPZ), a move aimed at restoring ecologically sensitive areas.
The plan was the central agenda during a stakeholders’ meeting held on October 10, 2025, at Kuya Rey’s Foodhouse in Kidapawan City. The meeting brought together representatives from the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), the Provincial Government of Cotabato, the Makilala Municipal Tourism Office, the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and local Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) holders.
Aside from tackling the phase-out strategy, participants also reviewed a proposed “livelihood menu” that offers alternative income sources for communities affected by the transition. The proposed options were based on an assessment of potential ecotourism sites within the Mt. Apo Natural Park, which could open new opportunities for sustainable local enterprises.
Officials assured that priority support programs will be implemented for tenured migrants and Indigenous peoples whose livelihoods will be affected by the crop removal. These include technical assistance, livelihood training, and partnerships with government and private organizations to facilitate the shift toward ecotourism and conservation-based activities.
The MANP-PAMO said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to balance environmental protection with the well-being of local communities. Once fully implemented, the phase-out plan is expected to become a model for sustainable park management and community-based conservation in one of the country’s most vital protected landscapes.