Forest fires stall Benguet town tourism activities

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The provincial government of Benguet has suspended all tourism-related activities in Itogon as fires continue to ravage the town’s mountains and forests for two weeks now.

Specifically suspended were tourism activities in the hinterland villages of Tinongdan and Dalupirip, where the fires are still raging, Benguet Gov. Melcor Diclas said in an executive order.

Reports from Benguet’s Bureau of Fire Protection and the Itogon municipal disaster risk reduction and management office said the fires have been going on in the villages of Ampucao, Dalupirip and Tinongdan since the middle of January.

From Jan. 28 to 31, a major fire destroyed large forest and bush areas in Sitio Palangshe in Barangay Dalupirip and Sitio Simpa in Barangay Ampucao.

The fire spread to the nearby village of Tinongdan on Feb. 2.

The Philippine Air Force and its 505th Search and Rescue Group helped place the fire under control.

Officials estimated that more than 20 hectares of forests and bushes have been destroyed since the fire started in January.

Meanwhile, police and firefighters have been trying to control a fire that broke out in the hinterlands of Atok on Sunday. The blaze continued to rage yesterday.