Fire ruins Vizcaya Eucalyptus tree farm

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – A multimillion-peso eucalyptus tree farm managed by the Bayombong diocese in a mountain village was ravaged by a fire earlier this week, the latest of a series of forest and grass fires in the province. 

It took residents of the seminary and those in nearby Barangay Busilac here more than 12 hours to put out the grass fire, which engulfed the seven-year-old, seven-hectare tree farm-cum-reforestation area.

Reports said the fire started at around 6 a.m. and was put under control at around 7 p.m.

“Miraculously, the (grotto with the) statue of Our Lady of Hope perched atop (the burned) hill (went) untouched,” a resident said.

The fire also swept through some 50 hectares of grassland in the adjacent area, bringing to some 100 hectares of forest and grasslands damaged by the series of fires in the past weeks.

Environment personnel are still assessing the damage and investigating the causes of the fires, although initial reports blamed kaingeros or slash-and-burn farmers. 

Forest and grass fires were also reported last week in the southern part of the province, including Aritao town, affecting several hectares, including grazing lands.

Also last week, some 50 hectares of grasslands in Barangays Balete and Duruarog, both in mountainous Diadi town, and in Barangay Villaros, Bagabag town were also razed by fire allegedly perpetrated by gatherers of abuos or ant eggs, a local delicacy.

The hunting of ant eggs, which usually peaks during summer, requires the burning of poles to clear the nests of ants perched on trees before gatherers collect the eggs.

Provincial environment and natural resources officer Roberto Apigo said they have intensified their campaign against these activities.