by Marilyn Galang/PNA
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is calling on the public to avoid anything that could start fire in the mountains of the province after at least 232 hectares of forestland in two towns went up in smoke in the past two months.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources officer Joselito Blanco said Tuesday several forest fire brigades, composed of forest rangers and volunteers, are closely guarding the forests but extreme heat has made it difficult for them to contain fire.
The affected forests were mostly in Carranglan town, including a National Greening Program area in Barangay Puncan and in Lupao town.
Blanco expressed regret that a lot of people took efforts to plant trees only to be wasted by fire.
“Huwag po sana tayong magsimula ng anumang apoy sa kabundukan dahil mahirap po talagang maapula ang apoy kapag ganitong panahon (Let us not start any fire in the mountains because it is indeed difficult to contain fire in this kind of weather),” he said.
“Unti-unti na po nating naibabalik sa magandang kondisyon ang ating mga kabundukan kaya sana po ay ating pangalagaan (We have been gradually able to bring back the good condition of our mountains. Thus, let us protect it),” he said, adding that ecological balance does people good.
Habits and practices that may trigger forest fires include indiscriminate throwing of cigarette butts, burning of trash, and “kaingin” or slash and burn farming.
