LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – Damage caused by grass and forest fires in this province in the first quarter of this year has reached P10 million.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Victor Dabalos said that about 5,000 hectares were affected in the towns of Solsona, Piddig, Carasi, Vintar, and Pasuquin from January to March.
Dabalos said grass and forest fires are the biggest threats to the provincial government’s greening program.
Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc has created the Ilocos Norte Fire Fighting Group composed of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Marines, and Philippine Air Force (PAF) to combat grass and forest fires in this province.
Davalos said combating grass and forest fires is challenging for the Ilocos Norte Fire Fighting Group due to the lack of helicopter to control these.
Fire Supt. Roxanne Parado, Ilocos Norte BFP Provincial Fire Marshal, said that more than 70 grass and forest fires were recorded in Ilocos Norte from January to the second week of April this year.
The BFP-Ilocos Norte recorded 43 fire incidents during Fire Prevention Month in March.