Probe on forest fire management sought
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet: Representative Eric Yap recently pushed a congressional inquiry on the capability of government agencies in dealing with forest fires.
Yap filed House Resolution 1603, which seeks to consider the need for a robust and coordinated approach to forest fire management, after a series of forest fires in the provinces due to the effect of prolonged dry spell that ravaged nearly a thousand hectares of forest the past several weeks.
“To date, more than 20 forest fires have been recorded in the province this year,” said Yap. “We filed House Resolution No. 1603, urging the House Committee on Natural Resources to conduct an inquiry into the capacity and readiness of appropriate government agencies in dealing with forest fires for the purpose of prevention and containment of such disasters as well as the immediate rehabilitation and or reforestation of damaged areas.”
Yap’s resolution also seeks to address this pressing issue by assessing the preparedness and effectiveness of government agencies tasked with forest fire prevention, containment and rehabilitation.
Aside from the resolution he filed, Yap said they are also requesting an audience with the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), the OCD, and the BFP (Bureau of Fire Prevention) to discuss their capacities and needs for intervention.
In order to maximize the capacity of our fire trucks, Yap said they also turned over fire hoses to strategic fire stations in the province.
He also emphasized the importance of proactive measures in mitigating the impact of forest fires on communities, biodiversity, and the environment while highlighting the need for a multifaceted approach to forest fire management, encompassing both preventive measures and post-disaster interventions.
“We are also in the process of preparing the distribution of financial assistance to those families whose livelihood were affected by the forest fires. We are gathering the list of affected families so they will be included in our next payout,” added Yap.
Yap’s inquiry also aims to pave the way for evidence-based policies and strategies to mitigate the impact of forest fires and protect the nation’s forests and safeguarding the country’s natural resources and enhancing its resilience to environmental hazards.