Camp John Hay villages vow to prevent forest fires

Camp John Hay villages vow to prevent forest fires

04 April 2012

published by www.sunstar.com.ph

Philippines — JOHN Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) under the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) signed at the Bell House a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Camp John Hay barangays Happy Hollow and Hillside for the establishment and maintenance of fire lines within the John Hay Forest Reservation last March 26.

JHMC vice president Mita Dimalanta said: “I appeal that we set aside whatever legal issues and questions we have at the moment. What’s important today is the protection/preservation of our forest and watershed because forest fires know no boundaries. In fact, environmental benefits or destructive effects know no boundaries.”
The JHMC executive added, “If we protect this forest, we stand to benefit from it tremendously. However, if we neglect to protect it, we all stand to suffer and lose. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”

Under the MOA, the barangays adjacent to or are situated within the forest reservation will establish fire lines with a total area of 39,450 square meters to stop, slow the advance of, or confine the forest fires in the reservation.

The total area of the fire lines is broken down as follows: 24,820 square meters in Happy Hollow, 5,130 square meters in Lower Dagsian, 4,500 square meters in Scout Barrio, and 5,000 square meters in Hillside.

JHMC will in turn provide the P394,500 budget for the project. Workers for the project will be selected by the respective barangays. The project will be implemented next month.

The John Hay Forest Reservation is the largest watershed of Baguio City and adjacent areas and its protection is one of the mandates of JHMC.

The establishment of firelines is one of the measures being undertaken by JHMC and the CJH barangays to preserve the forest watershed.