The American Chamber of Commerce in Mindanao (AMCHAM-Mindanao) yesterday sought the help of the US government in containing the fire that has already razed almost 300 hectares of forest cover inside the Mt. Apo Natural Park.

AMCHAM-Mindanao Chairman Philip Dizon told Manila Bulletin here that he already sent a message to the executive director of AMCHAM Philippines to air their concern to US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, saying the Philippine government might not have enough choppers with buckets to address the situation.

“I emailed out colleagues in the chamber especially our executive director to facilitate the needed support from the American government on the on going fight to contain this fire,” Dizon said, adding that natural resources inside the MANP are now at stake and in great danger.

He also recognized the current efforts of the government with the support of the private sector in containing the fire but asserted that outside support is now needed to effectively end the tragedy.

Dizon added that he received reports on Monday evening, March 28 that fires are also threatening towards the northern portion of Mt. Apo.

“If the fire in the northern area is not contained it will endanger the areas of Mt. Talomo down to Eden and Baracata,” he said.

He also bared reports saying fire is also threatening the southern portion of the mountain towards Makilala area in North Cotabato.

“If this drought and fire continue the whole Mt. Apo range will be burned. We need the American government’s help,” Dizon emphasized in his message to AMCHAM executive director.

MANP is the home to around 800 vascular and non-vascular plant species and considered endemic in the area; an estimated 272 species of birds of which 40 percent or 111 are considered endemic in the area.

As of Tuesday morning, choppers from the Philippine Air Force (PAF) are already joining the operations by dropping waters through buckets in the areas hit by fire.

Dizon said the current support from PAF is not enough, more choppers with bucket are needed and the American government can provide the same.

Ground forces mostly from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and volunteers from the regions 11 and 12 are in the slopes of Mt. Apo establishing fire lines to stop the spread of the fire.

More eco-guards needed

Vice presidential candidate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the fires that Mt. Apo and Mt. Kanlaon could have been prevented had the government hired enough “eco-guards” to man the country’s forest and protected areas.

Escudero, who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, reiterated his call for the government to hire more forest guards using the environment conditional cash transfer or ECCT, to address weak law enforcement, which is largely blamed for illegal logging and wildlife crimes.

The vice presidential candidate said the CCT program is one of the best mechanism the government can use to employ its beneficiaries in need of employment.

“If we have a CCT program for education, for maternity needs of our women, then we should include an environment CCT program,” Escudero said.

“If one is living in the forest and you are helping guard it, you should be under the coverage of the CCT or 4Ps of the government as reward for your service,” he said, referring to the government’s PantawidPamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) which is annual monetary dole out to poor constituents in dire need of financial assistance.

CCT program gives out a monthly stipend of up to P1,400 to each family-beneficiary provided their children regularly attend school and the mothers, if pregnant, seek pre- and post-natal care, as part of government’s efforts to improve the health, nutrition and education of children from the poorest sector of society.

Reports on burning of bushes at sitios located at the boundary of Davao City and Davao del Sur is said to be the cause of the forest fire at the highest peak of the Philippines.

On the other hand, two forest fires were reported on Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island during the Holy Week, with one incident said to have started from a lit cigarette.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Alexander D. Lopez

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