A TOTAL of 899.53 hectares (ha) of natural forest and expanded National Greening Program (E-NGP) areas in in Benguet was destroyed by fires from Jan. 6 to Feb. 18, according to an official of the Benguet Provincial Environmental and Natural Resources Office (PENRO).
PENRO-Benguet chief Edgardo Flor said there were 12 fires in eight of the 13 towns – Bakun, Kibungan, Atok, Buguias, Tublay; all in Buguias; and Bokod, La Trinidad and Kabayan.
Under CENRO-Baguio’s jurisdiction, a total of 646.02 hectares were burned.
Kabayan recorded the biggest damage at 452.15 hectares of natural forest and 191.54 hectares of E-NGP area; La Trinidad recorded damage in 1.19 hectares forest land and 1.14 hectares of E-NGP area.
Kabayan is host to Luzon’s highest peak Mount Pulag.
Under CENRO-Buguias, a total of 243.64 hectares of forest and E-NGP area were burned.
The burned forest lands were recorded at Ampusongan proper (.5 ha); at the boundary of Sitio Ay-ay and Dacugan also in Ampusongan (.62 ha); Lubo, Kibungan (.53 ha); Caliking, Atok (2.53 ha); Topdac, Atok (71.88 ha); Sinacbat, Bakun (65 ha); Abatan, Buguias (.58 ha) and at Ambassador, Tublay (95 ha).
There were also seven hectares of E-NGP burned at Sinacbat, Bakun town.
Flor said the total damage in the 12 fires reached P2,077,290.
He, however, said the 199.68 hectares of E-NGP area which were included in the fire cost the government much more millions in pesos.
The government spent from seedling production to planting and other stages.
“From seedling production to the establishment, maintenance, ginastusan mo… some of them [trees] anlalaki na tapos biglang masusunog,” he said.
Some were planted in 2011 when the NGP started, some in 2013 while others in 2015, he said.
Flor said one reason for the fires is the “kaingin” (slash and burn) practice of cattle raisers in the areas.
He said the lack of rain for several weeks already compounded the situation where Benguet forests are laden with pine trees that make it more vulnerable to fire.
Flor said they are doing their information, education campaign, especially at the far-flung communities to inform them of the need to prevent fires.
“Especially now that we are experiencing the El Niño, we hope nobody starts something that will lead to wildfire,” he said. (PNA)
