‘Help us Prevent Forest Fires’ – DENR-7

(DENR 7) — The sweltering Philippine summer, made even hotter by the reported heat wave caused by a mild El Niño, has put forests at risk of succumbing to fires.

Since January this year, two incidents of bush fires have already hit two plantations covered by the government’s National Greening Program (NGP), one in Oslob, Cebu and another in Bohol island.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo said it’s harder to control the spread of fire during summer due to the extreme heat.

Montejo appealed to the community residents living near NGP sites to help the department in protecting the woodlands by avoiding practices that will cause bush fires.

“They should help us in the protection of these areas. They shouldn’t just burn farm areas without making the necessary protection measures to protect the plantation sites,” said Montejo in a recent press conference.

The DENR regional director is referring to kaingin, a technique practiced by farmers in clearing lands by cutting down and burning plant growths.

He urged those living in the hinterland areas to get involved in the measures implemented by DENR-7 in protecting forest fires.

DENR-7 Spokesperson Dr. Eddie Llamedo said cigarette butts carelessly thrown around in grassy areas near forests can spark bush fires.

“Campers and trekkers should also be careful when cooking food in forested areas using outdoor camping stoves,” he said during a recent Kapihan forum held by the Philippine Information Agency in Cebu.

DENR-7 earlier kicked off its NGP implementation in Central Visayas with a budget of more than P404-M for this year.

President Benigno Aquino III issued Executive Order 26 on Feb. 24, 2011 establishing the NGP to reforest 1.5 million hectares of land while promoting a sustained environmental awareness campaign in the face of the ill-effects of climate change. (rmn/PIA7-Cebu)