LAWMAKERS in the province are advocating fire prevention to save lives, pine trees, and forests.
With challenges in fire suppression, board member and lawyer Ruben Paoad stressed the very first thing to do is strengthen prevention of forest fire.
“When you look at our forest, it is easier to reforest if it will be by itself, natural, that is why if we want for the very last forest to return, I think the very first thing that we should do is prevent forest fire,” said Paoad during the provincial board’s regular meeting on Monday.
Paoad also added the need to strategize fire prevention against investing on tree planting activities of which he noted requires large amount of money.
Emerita Albas of from City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) of Baguio cited at Mt. Pulag National Park in Kabayan, Benguet, they do not advocate the planting or replanting, adding the forest can reflourish by itself.
“We advocate for natural rejuvenation management,” she said.
Albas also apprised the body the distribution of water and irrigation in some parts of Mt. Pulag are utilized to suppress fire in the area.
The Cenro official also sought for the installation of water hydrants in highways especially along the Upper Agno River Station.
“During fire suppression, it took one hour to fill the truck from the river,” she said adding Mt. Pulag has a natural water source but highways in the area has none.
Albas added almost 100 percent of the highway in Ambuklao to Kabayan and Nueva Vizcaya are fire prone.
Bureau of Fire Protection Benguet data gathered earlier shows records from January to March 6, 2019, a total of 77 fire incidents were already recorded.
February had the most forest fires recorded with 40 while seven where recorded in January and from March 1 to 6.
Benguet Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office noted Kabayan, has the widest area hit by forest fire 314 hectares.