Fire razes 257 hectares of timberland in Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Forest fire already destroyed 257 hectares of timberland in eight towns, affecting reforestation projects of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources under the National Greening Program.

In his report to Governor Edgar Chatto, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Nestor Canda said the estimated value of the damaged areas already reached P7 million.

Canda also furnished the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council a copy of the report enumerating the areas affected by forest fire.

He also wanted the inclusion of “the people’s organizations who, in one way, lost their source of income as a result of the incidence” in any support that the provincial government can provide.

Danao town has the largest damaged area with 46.404 hectares of plantation undertaken by the local government unit in 2014, plus 34 hectares of the timber plantation at Barangay Cantubod, undertaken by CARE in 2013, affecting 2,225 saplings.

The DENR estimated the damage at P16,000 blamed to incendiarism. At Humaga area in Danao, damage on the 1,200 saplings—on the two hectares of timberland planted by SNTI in 2013—was estimated to reach P20,400. Damaged trees in the area included 2.5-meter tall Thailand acasia, mangium and cashew.

The 8.71-hectare plantation initiated in 2013 and 2014 by DAP at Barangay Dagohoy was also damaged by forest fire, together with 54 hectares of forestation project of Rice Land Paradise Multipurpose Cooperative.

Affected areas in Ubay town were forestation projects initiated in 2014: The 38-hectare area of BTPMC at Barangay Bongbong; the 11-hectare of CFA at Barangay San Pascual; and the 10-hectare site at Barangay Lomangog.

Other areas affected are the 11.165-hectare plantation at Barangay Buenavista in Loboc town, initiated in 2011; the 13.53-hectare project at Barangay Anonang in Inabanga, initiated in 2014; the one-hectare project of SNTI at Palinpinon, Barangay Ilaya in Inabanga affecting 345 trees with estimate damage of P9,610; 

The 3.079-hectare project of KANAMACA in Cabasakan, Getafe affecting 1,540 trees with estimated damage of P24,480; the 1.3-hectare project of KUFFARD at Kagawasan, Trinidad; the 6.5-hectare project of SUFA at Sikatuna, Talibon; the 2.729-hectare project of NAMANUGA in Nueva Granada, Buenavista; and the 9.11-hectare project of DUFA.

Canda said replanting in these affected areas will be done only at the onset of the rainy season. (FREEMAN)