PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) -- The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) strengthens its campaign against burning after six incidents of forest fires continuously occurred in three-week monitoring.
Park Superintendent Elizabeth Maclang said forest fires have already affected 15 hectares in Barangay Cabayugan, which started with the irresponsible practice of burning dried leaves.
To augment the force, park rangers and barangays had to request around 300 to 400-meter-long hoses from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) to manage the forest fire.
“Umakyat ‘yong apoy sa gubat hanggang sa hindi na namin siya nakontrol. Na-fire out siya pero na-found out namin na ‘yong ugat sa ilalim na nasunog, don pala dumadaan sa ilalim ng lupa. Sa ilalim na ng lupa nagmumula ‘yong sunog kaya ang hirap niya i-manage,” she said.
[The fire has escalated in the forest until we can no longer control it. It was fired out, but we found out that the burned roots beneath trees serve as a passageway under the ground. The fire comes under the ground, which is why it is difficult to manage.]
The park management has already deployed a team to stay in the area as it anticipates the possibility of another forest fire due to the ongoing El Nino phenomenon.
Heightened monitoring is continuously implemented after the fire almost reached Sitio Manturon, where the residential area is located.
Cabayugan houses the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Puerto Princesa Underground River. Maclang said the smoke from the forest fire was already noticeable from the highway and could have possibly been noticed by guests.
Some five individuals are expected to appear before the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to explain their involvement in the forest fire occurrence in the area.
One of the firefighters carries a long hose of water as additional support to clear the forest fire. (Photo from PPSRNP)
“Sa ngayon, hindi kami nagsasawa na magpaalala, may batas naman talaga ng regulasyon at zero burning pa nga sa DENR. At kapag arson ang kaso dahil nakasunog under E-NIPAS, anim na taong pagkakulong,” she said.
[As of now, we are not getting tired of reminding people that there is a law of regulation and zero burning in DENR. And if the case is arson because fire happened in E-NIPAS, six years of imprisonment.]
The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) has already discussed the plan to have a supplemental budget for the PPRSNP to procure a water truck amounting to P2 million.
Prior to the incidents of forest fires, the PPSRNP had already established a fire brigade trained by the BFP, Maclang added.
“Binibigyan pa kami ng time para malaman kung magkano na ang maiipon para ma-approve kami ng supplemental. Nasa P2 million plus, kakayanin ng budget,” she said.
[We were still given time to see how much we could save before the approval of our supplemental. Over P2 million in cost is possible in the budget.] (RG/PIA MIMAROPA - Palawan)
BANNER PHOTO COURTESY OF PPSRNP
