By Liza Agoot
BAGUIO CITY – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Sabangan, Mountain Province, urged farmers on Friday to avoid “kaingin” (slash-and-burn) farming as they prepare for the next planting season, citing it as the most common cause of forest fires.
“We call on our farmers not to burn the dry grasses and leaves at their farms as they easily light and spread, especially during the summer season,” Senior Fire Officer IV Sherwin Cogasi, acting fire marshal of the Sabangan Municipal Fire Station, said in an interview.
Cogasi noted that a forest fire on April 7, which spread across mountains and crossed a highway, reportedly originated from a “kaingin” activity. He added that the steep terrain made the blaze difficult for firefighters to reach.
“It is better to leave the dry leaves and grasses on your farm to become natural fertilizers than burn them and later lose control due to the wind,” he said.
He emphasized that every individual must help prevent forest fires, noting their severe impact on the environment. He said blazes destroy trees planted through the National Greening Program (NGP) and cause air pollution that triggers respiratory issues.
Cogasi also called on smokers to refrain from indiscriminately throwing cigarette butts and reminded parents to keep matches out of children’s reach to avoid accidental fires.
The BFP-Cordillera reported five forest fire incidents in the Mountain Province in 2025, affecting more than eight hectares. Regionwide, authorities recorded 24 incidents that burned 13,713 hectares of forest land.
With the summer heat intensifying, the second week of April alone saw several forest fires in the Benguet municipalities of La Trinidad, Itogon, Mankayan, Bokod, and Bakun, as well as in Bontoc, Mountain Province. (PNA)
