Prov’l board set to probe forest fires
LINGAYEN—The series of forest fires that recently hit the province has already alarmed the members of the provincial board.
An investigation in aid of legislation into the forest fires that engulfed vast hectares of timberlands/forest areas in Natividad and Aguilar towns during the Holy Week has been scheduled.
Sixth District Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr. said Monday during the board’s regular session that the causes of the fires will have to be looked into and solutions must be identified to prevent further devastation of large portions of timberland in the province.
“It’s high time that we should do something about it”, he said.
Officials of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), Bureau of Fire Protection and Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services and the mayors of Natividad and Aguilar will be invited to the Question Hour in next week’s session for their inputs.
Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr., presiding officer, said there were also reported forest fires in the mountainous areas in Sual and Bugallon towns.
Second District Board Member Nestor Reyes said the forest fire in Sitio Mapita, Aguilar lasted for two days.
Sought by The PUNCH for comments, PENRO head Leduina Co said she was already preparing to seek an audience with the provincial government in the rehabilitation of the forest areas razed to the ground.
Co said she will propose to Gov. Amado Espino Jr. the immediate rehabilitation of areas razed by forest fires and to the provincial board to pass an ordinance requiring all local chief executives including mayors and barangay captains to be accountable in the prevention of forest fires.
“This should be a concerted effort, not just by the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources),” she said.
Meanwhile, Co clarified that the affected area in Natividad was not 100 hectares as earlier reported in the media but only 31 hectares.
According to Natividad Mayor Rodrigo Rafael, fortunately no one was hurt and no other structure was damaged except for the electrical wiring around the pilgrimage site.
“The mayor suspects arson although it is possible that it was due to heat,” said Bince.
Co said there are only 21 forest guards at present guarding the entire forest areas in Pangasinan.
Natividad Mayor Rodrigo Rafael has offered P25,000 to anyone who could provide information on who caused the forest fire that razed their tourist/pilgrim area as he suspects it was intentionally made. (Tita Roces/Johanne Macob)
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