FIRST ON RADAR: New museum opens at Mt. Apo in Digos City, offering free admission

The Mt. Apo Geopark Museum showcases the mountain’s geology, biodiversity and Indigenous heritage as its UNESCO Global Geopark bid moves forward.

A new museum has opened in Digos City in Davao, giving the area a new tourism asset as Mt. Apo’s UNESCO bid moves forward. The museum also puts the mountain’s natural and cultural attractions on display, giving visitors another reason to explore the area.

The Mt. Apo Geopark Museum in Sitio Baras, Brgy. Kapatagan features rock specimens found on the mountain, information on its geosites, biodiversity and conservation efforts, as well as traditional clothing and practices of the Indigenous Peoples connected to Mt. Apo.

The addition gives trekkers and tourists another attraction to visit before or after a climb, potentially creating another touchpoint for the local tourism economy. More visitors can mean more activity for guides, transport providers, accommodation operators, restaurants, souvenir sellers and other businesses serving the destination.

The museum opened as UNESCO validators conducted a field mission for Mt. Apo’s bid to become a UNESCO Global Geopark. The visit also included an immersion with the Bagobo Tagabawa community in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, where the validators were welcomed through traditional rituals and cultural dances.

The museum is open to guests and trekkers for free Mondays to Thursdays, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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