ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu on Wednesday ordered the filing of criminal raps against the culprits of a forest fire that destroyed 5.9 hectares of grasslands in the 557-hectare Mt. Pulag National Park in Benguet during a grassfire last Jan. 20.
“The Department of Environment and Natural Resources recognizes the impact of the fire had on the national park and we will pursue all legal avenues to bring those responsible to account,” he said.
He said the grassfire put the lives of the people who were at the park at that time in great danger and caused damage to precious forest resources.
Authorities said the blaze was caused by an explosion from a butane gas stove brought by a group of hikers and trekkers from Cebu.
Ralph Pablo, director of the DENR-Cordillera Administrative Region, said seven mountaineers, led by one Kristomar Mackay, would face criminal charges for violation of Republic Act No. 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act and Presidential Decree No. 75 or the Forestry Reform Code.
According to Cimatu, the department would impose additional requirements for hikers wanting to climb Mt. Pulag in the wake of the forest fire.
Some parts of Mt. Pulag have already been declared off-limits to visitors to pave the way for rehabilitation of the area damaged by the blaze.
To prevent a repeat of the grassfire, Pablo said the national park management is now planning to designate an open area where cooking may be allowed and require overnight campers to bring portable fire extinguishers.
"The DENR is mandated to protect Mt. Pulag, but it is imperative that hikers and visitors do their part as well,” Cimatu said.
