Mt. Banahaw fire dying down after razing 50 hectares

The fire on Mount Banahaw in Quezon Province is dying down after it razed about 50 hectares of forest land, local authorities reported Thursday.

“Hindi na po malakas ang apoy, mababa na po ang density ng usok. Sa tingin po namin hindi na siya makakatawid papuntang Nagcarlan o papuntang Tayabas, kasi po yung crater ledge masyandong mataas hindi po kayang tawiran ng apoy,” a Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) official was quoted as saying in a report of GMA News' “24 Oras” aired Thursday evening.

The fire which started in Talong Ambon area at about past 5 p.m. on Wednesday has affected one of the three peaks of the mountain, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-CALABARZON.

Director Reynulfo Juan of DENR-CALABARZON said the lsoil of Mount Banahaw is naturally moist, which probably caused the fire to die down on its own since Thursday afternoon, “24 Oras” reported.

Nonetheless, the BFP continue to monitor the area and work with the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

“Napakataas ng terrain, kaya kailangan nating ng patuloy na tulong ng Philippine Air Force. Kailangan talagang mag-flush ng tubig (in areas affected) para bumaba ang temperature at mag-fire out na talaga siya,” said Regional Fire Safety Enforcement Branch chief Fire Chief Insp. Glenn Salazar.

Since Thursday morning, a PAF helicopter was conducting aerial survey on the mountain and two Huey Type II choppers were dousing the fire.

Salazar said that based on their initial investigation, lit candles left by pilgrims probably caused the fire, though they are still looking on other factors.

“Sa amin pong statistika, talagang wala namang sunog na nagaganap sa Mount Banahaw, that is why kagabi pa po namin pinag-aaralan ito. Based on our understanding, ang lupa po sa Mt. Banahaw ay naturally moist kagaya po nung sa Mt. Makiling. Hindi pupuwedeng attributed ito sa radiation-transferred heat coming from the sun, dahil unang-una, nangyari yan ng gabi,” Salazar said.

Salazar said they are looking into an unconfirmed report that 22 pilgrims allegedly sought permission to climb the mountain but were denied by the DENR- Protected Area.

Meanwhile, in a separate report of “24 Oras” Thursday, five pilgrims who came from Mt. Banahaw were now brought to Dolores Police Station for questioning. According to the “24 Oras” the five pilgrims who are members of Bundok Banahaw Incorporated climbed the mountain on Sunday.

“24 Oras” reported that until now, the Sariaya Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has no confirmed report if there are other pilgrims still on the mountain.

It was in 2009 when the DENR started closing about 11 hectares of Mt. Banahaw to the public under Republic Act 9847 or the Mt. Banahaw Act to give the mountain years to recuperate from the destructions caused by the influx of pilgrims. According to RA 9847, the ban is in effect until 2015.
But the DENR-Protected Area said they are finding it hard to patrol the area due to limited personnel.

“Ang forrest ranger ng Banahaw, tatlo sa Quezon, dalawa sa Laguna...ang covering areas namin 10,900.59 hectares, two provinces yan, Quezon and Laguna, ” DENR Protected Area Superintendent (PASU) Sally Pangan pointed out.

Based on RA 9847, pilgrims who went up the mountain without approval from the DENR-PASU may be slapped with a fine of P5,000 to an imprisonment of one year.

Though some parts of the mountain are still open to public, the DENR said that if proven that the fire was man-made, they might recommend the closure of the entire mountain, “24 Oras” reported.  — Elizabeth Marcelo/ELR, GMA News