Mt. Kanla-on Natural Park is open for trekking this Holy Week and will remain open the whole year round, unless the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology advises otherwise, Julie Rex Molavin, MKNP superintendent, said yesterday.

Since the last quarter of 2005, Kanla-on Volcano has had a zero PHIVOLCS alert level advisory, he said.

Unpermitted mountaineering activities with cutting are penalized under Republic Act 9154 or the "Mt. Kanla-on Natural Park Law" that took effect on Jan. 13, 2006.

"Oplan Semana Santa 2006" will be in operation again to man, monitor and check visitors and other mountaineering-related activities, he said.

MKNP Mountaineering Permits are issued at the MKNP Liaison Office at the Provincial Environment and Natural Resource Office compound at Gatuslao Extension, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. Application for permits must be made personally by the applicant, he added.

A mountaineering fee of P300 will be collected per trekker with only a maximum of nine trekkers per group, while P500 per group of trekkers per day will be for the guider's fees to be paid to the MKNP-PASU assigned guider and/or porter before trekking, Molavin said.

. One guide per trekking group is compulsory, while porters are optional. Orientation for the trekkers on the dos and donts, among other concerns, is given before trekking, he said.

Choice of trails and date of climb is on a first come-first served basis.

There are only three official trails recommended - the entrance station at Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia, So. Guintubdan in Brgy. Ara-al, La Carlota City, and So. Mananawin in Brgy, Malusog, Canlaon City, Molavin said.

Those who wish to make inquiries may call (034) 4333813, care of the PENRO Bacolod City Office, 09198361905 for Molvin (Park Superintendent-MKNP) and 09214355763 for Angelo Bibar (Ecotourism Officer-MKNP-PASU).*

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