The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Ilocos Norte on Thursday reported a significant decline in forest fire incidents in the province for the first quarter of this year.
In an interview, Fire Supt. Roxanne Annie Parado, Provincial Fire Marshal, said only three forest fires were recorded in the province during the first quarter of this year, a “dramatic decrease” from the 26 recorded during the same period last year.
She attributed the decrease to the collaborative effort of the inter-agency task force formed last year to address causes of forest fires.
“We are so thankful for the strong collaboration of the inter-agency task force as we have seen a dramatic decrease in forest fires province-wide,” Parado said.
The task force is composed of representatives from the BFP, the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Marine Corps (PMC), Philippine Air Force (PAF), Philippine Army (PA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the provincial government of Ilocos Norte.
Parado said the task force will continue foot patrols in the forest fire-prone areas this dry season while providing alternative source of livelihood to honeybee collectors, wildlife hunters and “kaingeros” (those involved in slash-and-burn activities), who were earlier identified as being behind forest fire incidents.
Police checkpoints and a registry of civilians going to the mountains are also being implemented by various local government units as a proactive measure to prevent forest fires in their respective areas.
Parado said she is hoping that with continued public vigilance and support from concerned public and private stakeholders, the occurrence of hazardous fires would be prevented. (Leilanie Adriano)
(Source: PNA)