Fireflies light up Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa

Fireflies, who are among the creatures threatened by the destruction of mangrove forests, have started to light up anew over the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.

According to Chino Gaston’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, fireflies indicate that the ecosystem in the farm is starting to build up anew after some illegal activities.

For former tour guide Jasper Camacho, he might have lost his job due to the closing of the firefly tour last year, but he said it was all worth it because he gave nature a chance to recover.

“During the time na nag-o-operate ang firefly watching, lahat ng mga safety, lahat ng mga pag-prevent kung anumang masisira sa biodiversity, sa river, sa mga fireflies, sa mangroves isa na rin, nako-control. Sa other side naman ng pagkawala ng fireflies, nakahinga naman ang environment,” Camacho said.

However, last month, the Bureau of Customs discovered that over 100 hectares of lowland forest were cleared by kaingin farmers within the penal colony.

“Malaki ’yong impact niya kasi we know naman… Unahin natin sa mga endangered species like the Philippine cockatoo, alam naman natin na lowland forest sila tumitira and since the area is a lowland one so talagang malaking impact noon para lalong maging critically endangered ang mga cockatoo,”  Iwahig Jail Supt. Raul Levita said.

“Ang another impact pa is ’yong water shed natin so sa ngayon ang pinagkukuhaan ng tubig ng Puerto Princesa City ay ang Iwahig. So kung patuloy natin kakalbuhin ang kagubatan ng Iwahig, mawawala ang tubig ng Puerto Princesa,” he added.

Meanwhile, Levita said if there is a possibility to reopen the farm to tourists, legal battles regarding it should be solved first.

Tourists should also be limited, he added.

Moreover, forest rangers should also be present to protect, not only the mangrove forest, but also the other 27,000-hectare land of the farm. – Ma. Angelica Garcia/RC, GMA News