AT LEAST 18 forest fires were recorded by the safety and security department of John Hay Management Corporation in 2019.
In the weekly Talakayan sa Environment Code radio forum of the Baguio Regreening Movement (BRM), Engineer Editha Mejia, environment officer of JHMC explained despite the recorded forest fires, what is equally important is the replanting, reforestation and the maintenance of a healthy forest in preventing these incidents.
“We share the same sentiments when it comes to forested areas where we see a decrees for possible planting of trees and what we are compensating here is the monitoring and forest care like one of the most harmful to forest is the presence of forest fires and in fact, our 2019 data at John Hay alone showed 18 incidents of forest fires covering almost 10 hectares,” Mejia said.
Among the most common sources of forest fires within the special economic zone were children playing inside the forest areas.
For this year, three forest fires were recorded by JHMC from January to March.
Mejia pointed out that JHMC has its own forest guards who initially address fires aside from the presence of hydrants within the eco trails of John Hay which is regularly tested.
Meanwhile, JHMC have cordoned off areas where dead trees are found to prevent individuals from passing following an incident last year where a high school student died after being hit by a falling dead tree.
“We have conducted an emergency cutting of dead trees within the area where the incident happened which was cordoned off. There are now signages and caution tape to warn the public, aside from the regular roving of our security which advises them to go to a safer place,” Mejia added.