Be wary of dry spell, DENR 6 warns

IN LIGHT of the El Niño phenomenon, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 6 warns the public of possible occurrence of grass or forest fires due to dry spell.

On high alert are the field offices which already put in place their respective React Teams, ever ready for possible fire occurrences along with the active Peoples’ Organizations (POs) in their respective areas. The POs are the group which the DENR contracted out to do the plantation establishment or seedlings production activities for the National Greening Program (NGP), Community-Based Forest Management and other reforestation projects.

“Most vulnerable to fires are the newly planted NGP areas, which still need to be protected from possible fire threats. Thus, we are banking on the strong support of the POs, the Local Government Units (LGUs) and our forest rangers to be vigilant in patrolling their areas so they can give quick response in case of fire incidence,” said DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Francisco E. Milla, Jr.

DENR 6 deployed forest patrol teams in NGP sites to conduct foot patrols.

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu identified Intensified Forest Protection as one of his ten priorities in pursuit of protecting the forest areas and its resources in the country.

In its Climate Outlook for March 2019, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG ASA) projected the five provinces of Western Visayas, namely: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental will likely experience dry spell owing to reduction from average rainfall conditions. PAG ASA defines dry spell as having three consecutive months of below normal rainfall conditions (21%-60%). (DENR-6)