Climbing in Tanay, Rizal? - Read This....

The Tanay Tourism Office recently issued a list of guidelines that climbers / hikers / mountaineers should comply. This was posted on the Facebook page of Tanay Tourism and has caused a stir because of the controversial requirement of submitting a medical certificate as proof of one's physical fitness.

Mt. Batolusong's Rangyas Peak and Mapatag Plateau

As copied verbatim from the post in Tanay Tourism Facebook page, the mandatory requirements before climbing include:

"REQUIREMENTS FOR MOUNTAIN CLIMBING/MOUNTAINEERS:
1. Permit/clearance to climb from the municipality of Tanay (and the concerned barangay);

 2. Email your request to climb to jeffpino@gmail.com and/or jeffpino@yahoo.com (please address your letter to Hon. Rafael A. Tanjuatco, attention to Engr. Carlos E. Inofre, Environment Officer, and Mr. Jeffrey M. Pino, Tourism Officer ;

 3. List of persons participating the climb, with complete address and contact numbers and copy of ID's s...hould be provided/attached to the letter;

4. Itinerary of the activity should be attached to the letter/email;

5. Climbing gear and paraphernalia must be provided by the mountaineer;

6. Medical certificate from a competent physician, certifying that the mountaineer is physically fit and medically fit to do such activity must be presented to Tanay Tourism or Barangay Chairman before the mountain climbing activity. No medical certificate – no climb. Medical certificate may also be secured from the Rural Health Unit of Tanay or Barangay Sampaloc;

7. Must register at Barangay Hall, attend a short briefing and orientation, pay required fees, and tour guide assignment;

8. Must comply with the municipality’s ordinance on plastic/styro ban;

9. No alcoholic beverage is to be consumed during the mountain climbing activity;

10. Local tour guide is a MUST;

For further info/inquiry please contact 0917.5229024 / 0936.2284173 / 7361059 or 0998.9881590"


While I believe that the local tourism office only has the best of interests in setting the aforementioned mandatory requirements, submitting a medical certificate as proof of physical fitness will make a lot of mountaineers shy away from climbing in Tanay, Rizal. Among the popular climbs in the area are Mt. Irid, Mt. Batolusong, and Mt. Daraitan.

Filipinos are known for their aversion of going to the doctor since many view it as an added and unnecessary expense. Also most mountaineers are actually trying to enjoy the outdoors while  possibly having the least spending. And whatever happened to the good old waiver? Isn't the waiver also a declaration that one is fit enough to climb mountains? And I remember, we had to sign a waiver when we climbed Mt. Batolusong twice earlier this year. Just my two cents though.

In view of the foregoing, mountaineers and occasional hikers should be aware of the rules that are being implemented in Tanay and coordinate with the authorities prior to their scheduled climb.

*There are claims that hikers without medical certificates are allowed to proceed as long as they sign a waiver at the jumpoff

Tramping Advisory 002
Medical Certificate - Tanay, Rizal