Mount Kanlaon in Negros Island Region has reopened for trekking after a three-year ban.
Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, head of Special Concerns of the Negros Occidental Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, said the trails were closed after the volcano was placed under Alert Level 1.
On May 5, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology lowered the alert status of Mount Kanlaon from Alert Level 1 to 0, or normal status.
The decision to open the trails came after the team of Protected Area Superintendent Concordio Remoroza of Mount Kanlaon Natural Park conducted trail assessment and clearing operations of the four entry points.
Mount Kanlaon straddles the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental. It is the highest point in the Visayas at more than 8,000ft above sea level. It can be accessed through Mapot and Manawin trails in Canlaon City in Negros Oriental while entry points in Negros Occidental are the Guintubdan trail in La Carlota City, and Wasay trail in Murcia.
Trekkers can now book at the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Bago City or at the Canlaon City hall. Numbers are limited to 10 trekkers per trail.
Foreign trekkers must pay 1,000 pesos, while the charge for locals is 500. Overnight stays at designated campsites are permitted.
In March last year we reported how Mount Kanlaon erupted, throwing up a mile-high plume of ash.