30 fires raze Benguet forests; gov calls for public vigilance

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Bureau of Fire Department in this vegetable producing province revealed it recorded 30 forest fires January to February this year.

A total of 93 forest fires were noted last year.

Following this, an alarmed Gov. Nestor B. Fongwan urged the public to be vigilant and responsible in protecting forests especially from fire.

BFP records showed number one cause of such fires was from throwing of lighted cigarette butts followed by children playing with matenvirches or lighters.

Fongwan urged smokers to discharge their cigarettes  properly especially this time of the year when  the mountain is dry and easily catches fire. Dry leaves and twigs that accumulate in forests serve to fuel fire, he said.

The governor instructed the mayors of the 13 municipalities in  the province  to mobilize residents in helping contain fire that might raze forests this summer as there are just few forest rangers.

Benguet is part of the Cordillera mountain ranges which serve as the watershed for the lowland areas of Ilocos and Cagayan regions, and it is our responsibility to take  care of our forests, Fongwan   said.  

In preserving  the environment,  the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources together with government agencies and private organizations  planted more than 2 million various  tree seedlings last year  under the  National Greening Program. -- Strawberry de Leon and Liza Enriquez