The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Davao Region is diligently pursuing the inclusion of Mount Apo on the esteemed UNESCO Global Geoparks list, with the intention of submitting the application by April or May of the forthcoming year. Mount Apo is already recognized as the tallest mountain in the Philippines and is designated as a UN-listed national park and an ASEAN Heritage Park. However, achieving UNESCO Global Geopark status would significantly elevate its international recognition, similar to World Heritage status.
Previously, Mount Apo was included on UNESCO’s tentative list in 2009 but was removed in 2015 due to mounting environmental threats, such as illegal logging, poaching, and agricultural encroachment. To enhance monitoring and enforcement efforts, Davao Light and Power Company, a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corporation, has made a valuable contribution by donating essential communication equipment to forest rangers, thereby improving their capacity to patrol the area and enforce regulations against timber poaching and illegal trekking activities.