Calling for a “National Mountain Clean-up Day” on May 10, 2014

 
Inspired by the International Coastal Cleanup Day and motivated in part by the need to step up our efforts in the face of increasingly severe disasters that we face as a nation, I would like to suggest that we all join hands in holding a National Mountain Clean-up Day in May 10, 2014, after the peak season and before the rains – in what I envision to be an annual activity that allows not just to clean up all the mountains but also to have a strong voice in raising awareness about the importance of protecting our mountains and forests.

Like the anti-pork rally, no organizer is required for this event and we do not need any kind of registration or fees; all we need to do is to coordinate which groups are climbing which mountains so we will not cluster together in one mountain (I can do this by posting the groups in PM). Sharing of ideas, plans, schedules, and group invites can also be facilitated through social media by using the hashtag #mtncleanup2014. I think for this event to succeed, it is important that the idea itself to be the rallying point rather than a group of organizers. Thus while I will be active in coordinating this event, I am not the organizer. Neither is this is my original idea – I’m sure many others have thought about this before. I want everyone to be the organizers so we can all claim ownership of this activity.

There are certain guidelines that we have to be aware of, however, in the conduct of the clean-up climbs.

1. As many mountains as possible, as few mountaineers in a mountain as possible – The goal is for us to be able to clean many mountains to avoid redundancy in the clean-up but at the same time to avoid overcrowding. Of course, more groups will be required to clean up more popular mountains like Mt. Apo. But we should still strive to maintain a group size of around 15 persons per group. To avoid multiple groups going into the same trail or mountain, I will be posting the list of groups who have final plans in this post. Again, we can use the hashtag #mtncleanup2014 to coordinate efforts.

2. Proper waste disposal. It is not enough to bring back the waste to the jumpoff, because it may just as easily end up being disposed in the same irresponsible way. It is important to see to it that the waste is properly disposed. Thus it is advisable to coordinate with local government units, the local DENR, on where the drop-off points for all the trash can be. I will also make a separate post about “Guidelines on organizing a clean-up climb” which will also include things to bring, how to protect

3. Coordination with local and national government is recommended. This is related to #2. As we all know, being a mountaineer means being able to deal with different people: the locals, the guide, our fellow mountaineers. Coordinating with LGUs, whenever possible, will allow them to participate in an environmental activity and avoid the potentially embarrassing situation of being perceived to be unable to clean one’s own backyard. I will also try to coordinate with the national DENR and see if they can help us. Your ideas are very welcome and if you have contacts with government agencies, you are more than welcome to share them with us (I hope Secretary Ramon Paje can somehow hear this!).

4. Let’s make this visible. For this activity to have a big impact, we need to “make noise” so we can bring to the national consciousness the importance of clean mountains as well as mountain-related issues. So if you have journalist friends, friends in the media, and other people who have a wide reach – you should invite them to take part, and if you are a journalist yourself please help us highlight this initiative so people can hear about it and hopefully be inspired. Of course all of us have social media presence and we can use this to influence others as well.

What is more powerful, cursing someone for littering in the mountain, or picking up his trash in front of him and putting it in your bag? Actions speak louder than words. By holding a National Mountain Clean-up Day as a collective action, we can influence through social media more powerfully than any discussion thread or status message can ever achieve. By doing this as an annual event, we have the opportunity to show the nation that our mountains need to be cleaned and conserved, and this is also a chance to inspire others to be responsible mountaineers. Let’s do this! #mtncleanup2014

PARTIAL LIST OF CLEAN-UP CLIMBS 
Note: This list is non-binding and does not include all the groups that may be planning to organise clean-up climbs on May 10. However, in order to emphasise the need to restrict the number of participants and groups for each mountain, this list will no longer be updated as of April 20. 

DESTINATION
ORGANIZING CLUB OR GROUP
CONTACT PERSON
CONTACT #
Gulugod-Baboy
Rotaract Club of Malabon East
Reginald Panida
Team PUSNAT
Angelo Antonio
09325855663
HGST
Garry A. Garcia
09175695423
Pico de Loro
Team Subi Monte
Jayson Gregorio
09258887663
Malabondokers and Friends
Nicolaou Romero
09165907892
Cavite Mountaineer – K-nyt Trekker
Marvin Gonzales
09175573641
Mt. Ugo
ICONS (In Conquest of Nature’s Secret)
Jeff Mansibang
09275219225
Mt. Sembrano
Rotaract Clubs of Camanava
Gabe Santos
09264294747
Mt. Romelo
Kanlungan Pilipinas Movement
Herald “Kuya Kyut” Villarca
09328787857
BATLAYA Mountaineers
Mark Bryan Orolfo
09491480052
Manabu Peak
Don Bosco Mountaineering Society (May 3)
BYP Trekkers (May 10)

EmersonEdmon Pacson

09277983435
Mt. Tagapo
Dell Outdoor Club
Brylle Estigoy
09063470669
Mt. Batulao
Batangas Mountaineering Society
Gary Salvador Garay
09278681973
Liberty Trekkers
Wilmer Bajao
09153934628
Alvin and friends
Alvin Balais
09275581905
Mt. Daguldol
Hightop Adventure
Mark Villamor
09277334359
Sampaguita Mountaineers
Mary Joanne Jugan
09175983036
Mt. Lantad
GREENCAT
Jun Candelaria
09298053589
Tarak Ridge
KAYO Mountaineers and Accenture Outdoor Club
Migs Siena
09475126854
Mt. Banoi
STOIC Mountaineers
Sarah Sagun
09253650218
Paniquian River – Tarak Peak
Dong-in Outdoor Society
Dindo
09299614876
Mt. Maculot
La Cuerdas Mountaineers
Ryan de Vera
09473296696
Jalaman’s Adventures
Crisanto Francisco
09153837047
T.S.O.G Mountaineers
Edmund Javillo
09484698585
Mt. Arayat
Highkings Outdoor Activities
Erwin Torio
09265538290
Mt. Palali
M-Trek Mountaineering
Roel
09265538290
Mt. Marami
Rizal Technological University Mountaineers
SCAVS Tribe

Miguel RoqueAijesan Santos

0946651094009361674819

Mt. Banahaw area – “9th Kabanahaw Cleanup Crusade”
Kabataang Binuklod ng Kalikasan (KABAN MS) and The United Climbers (TUCO)
Egay Tenepere
09328969784
Mt. Pulag – Ambangeg
Travel Factor
Cedric Valera
(02)7465119
Mt. Isarog- Panicuason
Hagahag Mountaineering Club
Mark Kevin Meneses
Click this link
Mt. Lobo
Eastern Mountaineering Society
Mogie Abadilla
09228921558
Osmena Peak
Visayan Trekkers Forum
Neil Mabini
09339716557
Mt. Makiling
Dahongpalay Mountaineers
Ernie Fines III
09278971852
Mt. Mabilog
KASAKA Mountaineers
Patrick Lomanta
09275621214
Mt. Kanlaon
Ugyonkatreebu Mountaineering Group
Kristine Fria
09322173344
Mt. Talamitam
Power Rangers
AMCI
April Aduana
Clint Sia
09276121078
Mt. Arayat
DTP Trekker Group
Jomer Obinario
09176311774
Mt. Kalisungan
Engineering Mountaineers and SEPHIL Mountaineering
Reynald Cabawatan
09357753623
Mt. Malindig
Morion Mountaineers Santa Cruz Marinduque Inc.
Rene Dela Rosa III
09194001234
Mt. Mandalagan
ANB Backpackers
Alvin Tolentino
09091102403
Mt. Talinis
Alimatok Negros Oriental Mountaineering Club
Sam Rodriguez
09272849021
Mt. Manalmon
Rotary Club of Midtown Quezon City
El Carbonell
T.U.K.L.AS Modern Outdoors Club
Carlo Castino
09053232663
Wander-Ful / UMMA
Emmanuel (Manu) Gallardo / Richelle (Ichi) Suazo
 09179099491
Bulabog Puti-an
Iloilo Students Alliance for Nature and Development (i-STAND)
Hermz Gacho
09984277314
Mt. Capistrano
Bukidnon Mountaineering Club
Dindo Chiong
Mt. Diguisit, Aurora
Noble Blue Falcons Environmental Mountaineers
Alvin de Guzman
09186730177
Mt. Sembrano and Mt. Tagapo
Team Ba Mountaineers
Alecka Eclarino
0936 461 9216
Mt. Damas
pan’ik
Klarence Alindongan
0917-5949646
Mt. Apo
Freelance Climbers of Cebu
Jessie Lee Ubay
 09177103404
Mt. Cinco Picos
Karagumoy Outdoors
Julius Sorsano
09176366715
Mt. Tabayoc
Discover Islam Baguio
Bedejim Abdullah
09198384301
Fitianol Islam
Rohola Muripaga
09065174913
Mt. Putting Bato
Marfori Expedition Team
Venn Candia / Christopher Mantilla
09399174773
Mt. Bulusan
Conquer Outdoor Equipment
Jane Cariaso / Jessie Tan
09178638336
Mt. Batolusong
Smart Mountaineering Club
Eunice Marie Marasigan
09437330553
Mt. Talomo (3rd Annual Clean-Up)
Wowok Mountaineers Davao
Alex Andico
09086136472
Taal Volcano
X’treme Trekkers (XTMSI)
Cris Casidsid
09198002645
Mt. Napulauan
Philippine Sports Commission Mountaineering Club
Manuel Bitog
09175014883
Mt. Isarog Panicuason Trail/Anayan-Rumangrap Watershed
Isarog Hiking Society
Amante Ama
 09206202000
Buntot Palos Falls
Loyola Mountaineers
Mikka Ferrer
Mt. Natib (Pasukulan Falls)
AMCI
Clint Sia
Hanginan Mountain Range
Mountain Lambs, Maasin, Southern Leyte
Mt. Malipunyo
Manila international Airport Mountaineering Club (Mia Mountaineering Club)
Andy Bercasio
 09163365863
Mt. Kanlaon (Mapot-Mananawin trails)
Sentinel Mountaineers
Epoy Cabatingan
Mt. Magsanga (Isabel, Leyte)
TAMAK Ormoc
Jefrey Gucela
09067496516
Mt. Malulod, Polillo Island, Quezon
Kamandag Barikus’ Mountaineers Association
Rhene A. Camarador
09396153883
Mt. Pundaquit – Anawangin
AMCI
Clint Sia
Sanchez Peak, General Santos City
First Five Trekkers
Joseph Sanchez
Tayak Hill
Batang Rizal
Vice Mayor Ferdinand Sumague
0495631567
Mt. Sumagaya
Mindanao Youth Volunteer Corps, Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental
Jeffrey Cuerquis
09154075585
Mt. Lumot
Mindanao Youth Volunteer Corps, Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental
Jeffrey Cuerquis
09154075585
Mt. Balatucan
Mindanao Youth Volunteer Corps, Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental
Jeffrey Cuerquis
09154075585
Mt. Lanaya (Legaspi and Lumpan Trails)
Eskapo Mountaineers, Cebu Spelunking Society & Alegria Tourism Office
JHearted Limbaga Sazo, Naths Domingo & Gigi-Akkok
09176273260 09189062269
Daraitan River
COMELEC Trekkers (comelekkerz) and Antipolo Nature Explorers (ANEx)
Helen Flores
Mt. Pinagbanderahan
PinoyMountaineer.com and Clean-up Climb volunteers
Gideon Lasco
Carlo Cunanan
09178635642



FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS


1. I do not have a group. How can I join the clean-up climbs?
The contact numbers of the organizers are listed in the table above. You can contact them to signify your interest. However, please understand that because not everyone can be at the same mountains at the same time, not everyone can join the initiative. However, everyone is encouraged to organise and join clean ups and other environment-supporting activities throughout the year.

2. Our group has signed up but we do not know how to organize a clean-up climb. How do we go about it?
Organizing a clean-up climb is not rocket science. Basically a clean-up climb is just the act of climbing a mountain to collect trash in the trails, campsites, and points of interest and bringing it down to a place where proper waste disposal is practiced. Please refer to the Guiding Document and the Message to Participants for additional guidance.

3. What if there are several groups doing a clean-up climb in one mountain?
The reason why I am posting the groups who have already announced their intentions is so that we can avoid such a situation. Groups who have decided on the same destination can discuss among themselves how to work it out. For examples, many mountains have different trails and groups can focus their clean-up efforts in a particular trail. Two or three groups doing a clean-up for one mountain is not a bad especially if these mountains are high-impact to begin with, and have many trash to be collected. The important thing is that groups cooperate with each other and with the local government.

4. How much will participating in the clean-up climbs cost?
It will cost nothing. There will be no registration or other fees. Of course, you will have expenses like going to the mountain, or contributing to the food, transpo, etc, for your own climbs. PinoyMountaineer itself is not the organizer of one big event, but the coordinator of many small events happening at the same time. I want this event to be as ‘grassroots’ as possible but providing the necessary unity to it.

5. Why do you have to do a cleanup day? Cleaning up the mountains should be done year round!
To this kind of argument, I might as well respond: “Why do you have to celebrate your mother’s birthday? Celebrating her should be done year round!” Definitely, making our climbs clean and holding clean-up climbs should be practiced throughout the year. But we need special days to remind us – and to send a message to  others – that mountains should be kept clean, and it is a shared responsibility.

6. Where will Pinoy Mountaineer be during the clean-up day?
As the Clean-up Day draws nearer, we may identify a mountain that no one has organized a clean-up hike for. I will be organizing a clean-up hike for this mountain. If all the mountains have been taken, then I will participate in any one of the clean-up hikes.

7. Will there be IDs and event/souvenir shirts?
I know that shirts and IDs are important for hiking events. However, to avoid any financial and logistical issues, any shirt that will be produced as an event shirt will be open source design which groups and individuals can just download and print for themselves and add their logos on it. This logo is now available on the Message to the Participants page.

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63 Comments on "Calling for a “National Mountain Clean-up Day” on May 10, 2014"


Guest
edmon
10 years 4 months ago

Sir Gid, ipapabago lang po namin ung name sa list, instead of BYP Trekkers, it should be "BYP TRAMPERS" po. Maraming Salamat po ulit…

Guest
10 years 4 months ago

Sir Gid,
COMELEC Trekkers (comelekkerz) and Antipolo Nature Explorers (ANEx) will cleanup Mt. Daraitan po. ANEx, on our behalf, made prior coordination with the Barangay LGU of Daraitan. for us who work overtime on Saturdays, we plan to do the cleanup on Sunday, May 11.

Guest
10 years 5 months ago

sir gid. pwede pa po ba humabol???now lng po kc aq nka visit sa site,,,

group name:esca mountaineer
group leader:arnel d. camain
clean-up destination: mt. tagapo
number of participants: 12
contact #: 09332519440/09182637136

Guest
10 years 5 months ago

Group name: Lakbay Pilipinas
Group leader: Norman Paul Yang / Kevin Dungao
Clean-up destination: Mt. Daguldol
Contact number: 09164853572
Additional information / remarks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lakbaypilipinas/

Guest
10 years 5 months ago

Group Name: KADLAWON MOUNTAINEER
Group Leader:Mac Reoloquio
Clean-up destination: Mt. Makiling
Contact Number: 09364144616
Number of slots (max.18): 18