Forest Fires Ravage Reforestation Efforts in Antique

ANTIQUE — The National Greening Program (NGP), an initiative led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to reforest and restore degraded forest lands, has suffered a significant setback in the province of Antique due to a series of forest fires.

According to Philippines News Agency, over 116 hectares across six municipalities, including Laua-an, Bugasong, Valderrama, Patnongon, Sibalom, and San Remigio, were impacted by these fires. The incidents, attributed to human activities such as carelessly discarded cigarette butts, have resulted in estimated losses of PHP 2.02 million. The blazes have destroyed a variety of plant species integral to the greening effort, including coffee, guyabano, bamboo, and various timber plants.

In response to this disaster, Laud has called upon local government units (LGUs) to collaborate with CENRO in bolstering forest protection measures. This includes the recruitment of additional Bantay Gubat (forest guards) to prevent future incidents and an enhanced information and education campaign targeting farmers and upland communities. The goal is to cultivate greater awareness and involvement in safeguarding the NGP sites.

Moreover, the natural heritage of Antique has incurred further damage with two recent fires in the Sibalom Natural Park, specifically in Barangay Cabladan of Sibalom town, affecting an additional 14 hectares of preserved land. An ongoing assessment aims to quantify these damages further.

Laud emphasized the broader ecological implications of such fires, noting the detrimental impact on biodiversity and wildlife in the affected areas. He highlighted the critical need for community involvement in conservation efforts to prevent future losses and ensure the success of reforestation and natural preservation initiatives across the region.