The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered on Saturday, April 2, the review of the existing forest fire prevention measures to prevent further incidents of man-made forest fires nationwide, especially with the increasing temperature as the dry (referred to as summer) season starts.

Environment Acting Secretary Jim O. Sampulna said that the move would strengthen DENR’s ties with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), which he said, will conduct cluster training for the agency’s field personnel.

Based on the agreement, he said personnel of both agencies would conduct forest fire preparedness and response training for communities engaged with DENR’s various initiatives or communities covered within the Expanded National Greening Program’s (ENGP) area of responsibility.

“Forest fires are mostly fueled by human activities, making it imperative for us to recalibrate our response readiness and forest fire prediction alertness to pre-pandemic levels, which calls for tighter coordination with people’s organizations and family beneficiaries of the National Greening Program,” Sampulna said in a statement.

He explained that man-made forest fires are often caused by kaingin (slash and burn farming, smoking of honeycombs to gather honey, cigarette butts, and other forms of activities that involve fire).

Meanwhile, BFP Director Louie Puracan said that the preparedness of DENR field officers and partner communities gives them ample time to respond to a forest fire outbreak.

“A protocol is already in place for the BFP, including other appropriate agencies such as the DENR and the concerning disaster risk and reduction management council to respond,” Puracan said.