Forest fires
THE difficulty in fighting the forest fires in Benguet and Mountain Province is enough reason to provide local government units (LGUs) in mountainous areas with more firefighting equipment.
Reports said the lack of firefighting equipment, coupled with very strong winds, has been hampering efforts to battle forest and grassland fires in the Cordilleras.
Besides, some of the fires that struck the mountainous region since the start of the new year occurred in inaccessible areas.
Likewise, firefighters do not have aerial “spotters,” such as drones, to help them navigate through woodlands and ensure that they are not trapped within a burning part of the mountain or forest.
Since January 1, there have been 63 forest fires and 26 grassland fires in the Cordillera Administrative Region, according to reports.
This year, various quarters suspected that the forest and grassland fires in the area were ignited by the so-called “kaingin” farmers.
Note that the presence of these “slash and burn” farmers remains a major problem of the authorities in mountainous and forested areas.
Last year, fires destroyed 1,420 hectares of forests and watersheds in the region. In 2022, the 32 fires damaged 1,730 hectares of forests.
Indeed, the forest fires in Benguet and Mountain Province have thrust out front the need to provide LGUs in mountainous areas with enough highly-effective firefighting equipment.
After all, this is what Filipinos want to see, particularly during summer “kung kailan usong-uso ang mga sunog sa iba’t-ibang parte ng Pilipinas.”
