by Derco Rosal
In line with the Fire Prevention Month, Danilo Fagyan, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief of investigation said that the BFP conducts Fire Safety Education, lectures, and house-to-house inspection to ensure their safety.
“Ang ginagawawa ng BFP, nagka-conduct ng Fire Safety Education sa lahat ng baranggay. Mayroong Oplan Ligtas Pamayanan. Ang gagawin namin dun ay maghouse-to-house inspection. Tsaka every barangay, magka-conduct ng lecture para sa fire safety nila,” he said.
(BFP is conducting Fire Safety Education in all barangays. There is Oplan Ligtas Pamayanan. Our job is to have a house-to-house inspection. In every barangay, we will conduct a lecture for their fire safety.)
Forester Walter Pedro from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) urges locals to have an inclusive concern towards the environment, saying it is not the sole duty of the DENR and BFP to protect the environment and prevent fires from happening because they are just the lead agencies.
“Kung human-caused kasi [ang sunog], kulang sila sa [kaalaman] sa environment natin. Hindi nila alam ang magiging resulta sa mga ganyan na sunog. Although, we are conducting Information and Education Campaign (IEC) sa mga community, barangay, eskwelahan. Di natin maiiwasan yan kasi di naman natin hawag ang leeg ng mga tao,” he said.
(If it is a human-caused fire, they lack knowledge about our environment. They do not know the outcome of such fire incidents. Although, we are conducting Information and Education Campaign (IEC) in communities, barangays, and schools. We cannot prevent it [fire] because we cannot control them.)
“Kaya ganon, kahit anong sabihin natin sa IEC natin, wala pa rin. Dapat concerned lahat, hindi lang DENR. Kapag kasi may sunog sinasabi nilang DENR tsake BFP. Kami lang kasi ang lead agencies.”
(Although we discuss everything in IEC, it’s useless. All should be concerned, not only DENR. When there is fire, they refer to DENR and BFP. We are just the lead agencies.)
Forest fire update
Almost a month has passed since the Baguio-Benguet forests started burning, until now forests are still on fire.
According to Pedro, the fires destroyed about 1000 hectares and two million is the estimated cost of the damage left by a series of forest fire incidents in Baguio, Kabayan, Bokod, Tuba, and Sablan.
Bokod forests has been burning less than a week now; however, there has been no reported cases of death to this date.
Fagyan claimed that all the fire incidents are caused by human actions, not by nature.
“Nakikita nating cause diyan ay kadalasan ‘yung garbage, sinusunog nila ang garbage sa tabi ng forest. ‘Yung isa ay mga bata, naglalaro ng posporo tsaka lighter; tsaka mga passersby na naninigarilyo, illegal disposal of lit cigarettes.
(Often, the root cause of it [fires]are garbages being burned beside the forest. Another cause is the kids playing matches and lighters; also, passersby who are smoking and disposing lit cigarettes illegally.)
Walter suggested the firefighters to be equipped in utilizing backpack sprayers to reach the burning areas that cannot be reached by hose from trucks.
“Ang mga BFP kasi kung minsan hanggang doon sa kaya lang ng hose nila ang napapatay na apoy. Eh kami ang sumusugod sa mga kabundukan; kaming mga foresters. Kami ang nagsusuppress.”
(Sometimes, firefighters only stop the fires within the reach of the hose. We, the foresters, are the ones who go to the mountainous areas. We are the ones who suppress the fires.)
“Meron kaming backpack sprayer. Dapat sana ‘yung mga BFP, equipped din sila sa backpack sprayer para makapunta sila sa malayo.”
(We have backpack sprayer. The BFP should be equipped with backpack sprayers to extend their reach.)
Edited by Antoinette Mandap
A signage near DENR reminds everyone to do their part in preventing forest fires and global warming.
Comments