DENR-7 watches areas vulnerable for wildfire

CEBU, Philippines — As the dry season brings hotter weather until the month of May, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas is taking the necessary measures to prevent possible forest fire in timberlands and plantations across the region.

DENR-7, however, said that the efforts from the government sector are not enough without the cooperation and support of the local communities concerned.

Dr. Eddie Llamedo, head of the Regional Public Affairs Office of DENR-7, said local officials and the residents themselves should also look after and help oversee these plantations or forested lands as these benefit their own community.

“Our monitoring is not enough. We need the strong support and assistance from the local government units and communities to help in monitoring,” he told The FREEMAN.

Llamedo also urged the public, especially hikers or mountaineers, to avoid camp fire during this hot season and be cautious enough in their activities as they may start a fire.

“They may negligently cause a fire by throwing a lighted cigarette butt in our forests and this might trigger a flame that may spread through the forest,” he further explained.

He encouraged the public to immediately report to the Bureau of Fire Protection if they notice even a small grassland on fire within their locality.

DENR- 7 has directed the provincial and city based officers to keep an eye on the 85,000-hectare  plantations across the region. These vast plantations were nurtured through the agency’s National Greening Program that has been established in different areas in the region. Most of these plantations can be found in Negros Oriental.

“Our regional director Gilbert Gonzales already issued a directive to the four provincial environment and natural resources officers and six community environment and natural resources officers to closely monitor our plantations including the natural stand,” said Llamedo.

Through the directive, he said at least four teams were created per province to conduct  continuous surveillance of these forests; each body is composed of forest rangers, forest technicians, and foresters.

He said the teams were tasked to closely monitor the identified hot spots or those areas which are highly vulnerable to forest fire, particularly those with more than 5 hectares.

Llamedo said DENR-7 personnel also established fire lines so that flames could not spread out immediately. (FREEMAN)