The Municipality of Valencia, Negros Oriental will temporarily close all trails leading to Mt. Talinis within its territorial jurisdiction beginning November 1, 2026, following the signing of an executive order by the local chief executive on October 26.
Municipal Mayor Edgar Z. Teves Jr. signed Executive Order No. 45, Series of 2026, ordering the closure to give the mountain’s ecosystem time to recover from the effects of sustained human activity, according to an announcement posted by the Valencia NegOr Tourism Office on its official Facebook page on October 27, 2026.
Ecosystem Deterioration Cited as Grounds for Closure
Executive Order No. 45 states that the number of climbers visiting Mt. Talinis — also known as Cuernos de Negros — has grown significantly in recent years due to increased public interest in outdoor activities. The order attributes this surge in foot traffic as a contributing factor to the ongoing deterioration of the mountain’s ecosystem, which it notes has already sustained damage from years of continuous human activity.
The order was issued under the authority of Section 192 of Municipal Ordinance No. 05, Series of 2022, otherwise known as the Tourism, Heritage, Culture and Arts Code of Valencia. That provision mandates that “the Municipal Government shall regulate entry in Mt. Talinis within the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Valencia based on the carrying capacity of the mountain.”
Mayor Teves: Mountain Needs ‘Undisturbed Season’ to Recover
Mayor Teves framed the closure as a necessary measure to protect a natural resource of significance to the local community. According to the executive order, the closure is intended to provide the mountain a “reasonable amount of time of undisturbed season” to fully recover and maximize its benefits for the people, particularly Valencianons.
The signed order, a photograph of which was included in the Tourism Office’s Facebook announcement, bears the notation: “AN ORDER FOR THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF THE MT. TALINIS TRAILS WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF VALENCIA, NEGROS ORIENTAL.” It was executed in Valencia on October 26, 2026.
PNP to Lead Implementation
The Philippine National Police (PNP) will lead the enforcement of the trail closure, according to the executive order, working in coordination with the Municipal Tourism Office of Valencia. No further details on the specific enforcement mechanism or checkpoint locations were included in the announcement.
No Reopening Date Set
Executive Order No. 45 does not specify a date on which the trails will reopen. Section 2 of the order states only that it “shall take effect on November 1, 2026,” leaving the duration of the closure open-ended.
The Valencia NegOr Tourism Office advised trekkers and tour organizers to coordinate directly with the Municipal Tourism Office for further advisories regarding the closure period and any future resumption of trail access.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Valencia NegOr Tourism Office / Facebook
