History
Recognizing its biological, historical and socioeconomic importance, one of the local government units with political jurisdiction over the range Municipality of Sumilao, Bukidnon initiated its proclamation as a national park through Resolution No. 32, S. 1989. Thus, on December 14, 1990, Mt. Kitanglad was declared a national park by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 677. In 1994, it was chosen as one of the 10 priority sites under the World Bank through the Conservation of Priority Protected Areas Project CPPAP and became an initial component of the National Integrated Protected Areas System NIPAS pursuant to Republic Act 7586 NIPAS Law considering its earlier proclamation.
Following the processes provided under the NIPAS Law and with local interventions, Mt. Kitanglad was proclaimed a protected area under the natural park category through Presidential Proclamation 896 dated October 24, 1996. On November 9, 2000, Mt. Kitanglad finally became a full-pledge protected area when Congress approved R.A. 8978 also known as the Mt. Kitanglad Range Protected Area Act of 2000.
Understand
The Kitanglad mountain range which dominates the north-central portion of the Bukidnon Plateau plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of North and Central Mindanao. Aside from being the homeland of indigenous cultural communities of Bukidnon, it is also a major watershed providing water for power generation, irrigation, and domestic use for the provinces of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental.
The place is occupied by 8 municipalities of Bukidnon namely Talakag 4,945 ha, Baungon 3,157 ha, Libona 6,196 ha, Manolo Fortich 595 ha, Sumilao 3,532 ha, Malaybalay 2,317 ha, Lantapan 7,912 ha, and Impasug-ong 1,985 ha.
Mount Kitanglad Range covers an estimated area of about 30,642.0 hectares, of which 82% is secondary forest, 5% brushland, 12% grassland areas while the remaining 1% constitutes agricultural/open and bare soil areas. Its buffer zone covers an area of 14,480.0 hectares.
Mt. Kitanglad Range forms the headwater catchments area of several major river systems draining North and Central Mindanao. Among these are the Cagayan, Tagoloan, and Pulangi Rivers.
Climate
The climate of Mt. Kitanglad falls under Type III of the Modified Corona's Classification. This is characterized by a short dry season lasting from one to three months and with no pronounced maximum rain period. Temperature ranges from 22.7 C during January to 24.6 C during June. The area receives the highest amount of rainfall during the month of June, while the direst period is in the month of March. Relative humidity varies from 71% in May to 86% in September. The area is virtually cloud-covered throughout the year.
Flora and fauna
Kitanglad mountain range is a part of the Kitanglad National Park and is situated in North Central Bukidnon. It has an area of 31,297 hectares composed of more than a dozen mountain peaks. Mt. Kitanglad towers more than 2,500 meters which offers a challenge to mountain climbers. To reach its summit, one has to scale its ranges for five hours passing through flora and fauna of a genuine virgin forest. At the base is Lawan, Dalawangan, which is the home of the Philippine Eagle.
The types of forest present in Mt. Kitanglad are evergreen rainforest, mid- mountain forest and upper-mountain forest. 45% of the total area of the park is covered with old growth forest. A number of endemic plant species which are now considered rare and difficult to find are found in the area. The gymnosperms and particularly members of the family Ericaceaeare are abundant near the summit.
There are 55 species of mammals in the park. These include 15 species endemic in Mindanao and 3 species locally endemic in the area. Among these are Alionycteris paucidentata, a pygmy fruit bat that was first described in 1965 as a genus and specie endemic to Mt. Kitanglad only; giant flying box, the largest bat in the world; Mindanao gymnure; Mindanao tree shrew; Shrew mice; kaguang; monkeys; Philippine pygmy squirrels; Mindanao flying squirrels; Bearded pig; Philippine deer.
It is home to a host of rare bird species like the serpent eagle, the red harrier, the Brahmin kite and the Philippine sparrow hawk to name a few. There are a total of 133 species of birds in the park of which 15 are endemic in Mindanao. These include Coracina mogregori, Otus mirus, Trichoglossus johnstoniae, Basilornis miranda and Leonardia woodi.
Landscape
Mount Kitanglad Range belongs to the volcanic Lanao-Bukidnon Highland and covers most of the northern half of Central Mindanao. It has an elevation up to 2,938 meters above sea level, dominating the Bukidnon plateau. The Kitanglad mountain range is composed of numerous peaks; the more prominent ones are Mt. Kitanglad, Mt. Kaatuan, Mt. Maagnaw and Mt. Dulang-Dulang. This is one of the confusing mountains in the country in terms of stature. It was once measures as 2,385 meters above sea level but recent claims contest that the mountainâs highest peak, Mt. Dulang Dulang measures 2,938 meters above sea level, thereby making it the countryâs second highest peak after Mount Apo relegating Mount Pulag to the third place. Though no official proclamations proves this and Pulag is still called the countryâs second highest.