TABUK CITY, Kalinga – At least 233 hectares of reforestation sites under the National Greening Program (NGP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the province were burned in wild grassfires this season.
Based on the report of Severino Dalutag, Tabuk City Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO), the sites were distributed in the municipalities of Rizal, Tinglayan and Tabuk.
The investigation conducted by the CENRO showed the estimated cost of damage on the project reached P2, 677,780.
Cases of wild grass fires are common problem during summer here because of drying grasses due to the long dry spell.
After the assessment of damage, Dalutag said they had prepared a restoration plan for affected sites of the project.
The plan requires partner people’s organizations (POs) to do the rehabilitation effort while DENR will provide assistance in terms of providing tree seedlings and re-planting.
Under the NGP, reforestation projects are awarded to partner POs through work contract where planting, maintenance and protection of the project are part of the duties of partner POs, Dalutag explained.
The CENRO appealed to the community to participate in the protection of government reforestation projects revealing the cause of wild grass fires usually originate from indiscriminate acts. (JDP/LL-PIA CAR, Kalinga)
