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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider DENR Davao bans wet wipes, single-use plastics in Mt. Hamiguitan

DENR Davao bans wet wipes, single-use plastics in Mt. Hamiguitan

Published Aug 11, 2026 04:03 pm
Trekkers at Mount Hamiguitan. Photo from the Davao Oriental website
Trekkers at Mount Hamiguitan. Photo from the Davao Oriental website
DAVAO CITY – The Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) of the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary has imposed a total ban on the use and disposal of wet wipes and single-use plastic materials within the protected area. .
In a statement, PAMO said the Protected Area Management Board has recently issued Resolution No. 2026-20, which prohibits the non-biodegradable materials that are usually carried by trekkers and researchers in Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary.
It added that this directive stemmed from the consistent findings of the agency during the recent impact monitoring of ecotourism activities in the mountain conducted every semester.
“Wet wipes are composed of non-biodegradable plastic fibers and chemical resins that do not decompose in forest environments, while single-use plastics (including PET bottles, sachets, and disposable cutlery) significantly contribute to the degradation of the protected area and its water sources,” the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
PAMO is a field unit under the DENR tasked to manage and protect specific national parks, protected areas, watersheds, and marine reserves.
Under the directive, PAMO has advised all trekkers, researchers, and visitors to undergo mandatory pre-climb orientation wherein this policy will be integrated.
It added that PAMO will also conduct a strict baggage inspection prior to entering the protected area.
PAMO warned that violators will be penalized in accordance with existing national laws, particularly Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and the Republic Act No. 11038 or Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018.
“True conservation begins with us – in the choices we make, the actions we take, and the responsibility we embrace,” DENR Davao Region emphasized.
With an area of at 26,652 hectares, Mount Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary Range straddles the towns of Governor Generoso and San Isidro and Mati City in Davao Oriental.
About 7,000 hectares of its total area has been declared a protected area under the Republic Act 9303 in 2004.
In 2014, the wildlife sanctuary was inscribed as a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, becoming the first in Mindanao and the sixth in the Philippines.
The mountain, which is known for its pygmy forest and endemic species, is one of the top trekking destinations in Davao Region. 

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