DENR warns of bushfires this dry season

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - 7 has strengthened its campaign in preventing a forest or bush fire as a result of the coming “dry” season.

A bushfire occurred last March 3 at around 9 p.m. within the 630-hectare Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve in Sitio Badiang, Barangay Toong in Cebu City.

The fire damaged about 23 teak trees within an estimated area of 400 square meters.

“It is more practical and sensible to prevent forest fire rather than controlling them, through regular monitoring and intensive and aggressive information, education and communication efforts,” said DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo.

Teak (scientific name Tectona grandis), a yellowish brown timber with good grains and texture, sheds its leaves during summer or dry season.

In a report from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Cebu dated March 5, the bush or forest fire was put out sometime last March 4 by forest rangers Jesus Bertumen and Danilo Orbasido.

Meanwhile, Montejo said the “carelessness and irresponsible activities of humans” that may cause a fire to break out include thrown lighted cigarette butts, a campfire with live cinder or charcoal left by hunters or campers, and a pasture land burned to improve live-stock grazing.

In a campaign for fire prevention, he cited, people’s active participation by organizing and mobilizing the members of the community to serve as volunteers at a barangay or sitio or purok level is important.

Montejo said that grasses and other vegetation dry up and become very flammable during summer or dry months. He suggested that these dried litters should be collected and removed from the site as they are potential source of fire.

“I have instructed all our field officials to continuously monitor and conduct regular patrol in all protected areas in the region so that we would be able to prevent the occurrence of forest or bushfire,” he added in a statement. —/JPM (FREEMAN)