Saying that Mt. Talinis needs time to recover from human activity, the Municipality of Valencia in Negros Oriental has closed trails to the mountain in the town temporarily.

In a post on its Facebook page, the municipality said the temporary closure will give Mt. Talinis, a favorite destination of hikers, a time to rest and recover.

“This proactive move aims to give Mt. Talinis a much-needed period of rest and ecological recovery, ultimately preserving its natural beauty and maximizing the long-term benefits it offers — especially to the Valencianon community,” the post reads.

“We seek everyone’s understanding and support in this effort toward environmental preservation and sustainable tourism,” it reads further.

In Executive Order No. 37 also posted on Valencia’s Facebook page, Mayor Edgar Teves, Jr. said the growing number of climbers in Mt. Talinis has contributed to the detriment of the balance of the ecosystem in the area.

“The number of climbers in Mt. Talinis has subsequently grown in numbers, driven mainly by the desires of many to do outdoor activities. Thereby contributing to the detriment of the balance of the ecosystem in the area which has already endured significant damage from years of continued human activities,” his EO reads.

Because of this, Teves said a reasonable amount of time is necessary to give the mountain a time to heal.

“There is a need to provide for Mt. Talinis a reasonable amount of time of undisturbed season in order for it to fully recover, thus eventually maximizing the possible full benefits/potentials that it can give the human population, particularly for the Valencianons,” the order reads further.

Teves also directed the Philippine National Police to implement the order.

“I, Edgar Z. Teves, Jr., Municipal Mayor of the Municipality of Valencia, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order the temporary closure of the trails leading up to Mt. Talinis within the territorial jurisdiction of the Municipality of Valencia, Negros Oriental. Further, the Philippine National Police is hereby ordered to take the lead in implementing the temporary closure of Mt. Talinis in close coordination with the Tourism Office,” the order reads.

The Executive Order does not indicate how long the trails will be closed.

Municipal Ordinance No. 05 Series of 2022 states that the town “shall regulate entry in Mt. Talinis within the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Valencia based on the carrying capacity of the mountain.”