Forest fire already damaged 257 hectares of timberland in eight towns where the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) affecting forestation projects under the National Greening Program (NGP).

In his report to Gov. Edgar Chatto, PENRO Nestor Canda said the estimated value of the damaged areas already reached P7 million.

Canda also furnished the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) with a copy of the report enumerating the areas affected by forest fire.

Canda aimed for the inclusion of “the people’s organizations who, in one way, lost their source of income as a result of the incidence” in any support that the provincial government can provide.

Danao has the largest affected area with 46.404 hectares of plantation undertaken by the local government unit in 2014 had been damaged.

Also in Danao, 34 hectares of the timber plantation undertaken by CARE in 2013 in barangay Cantubod had also been damaged, affecting 2,225 saplings.

The DENR estimated the damage at P16,000 blamed to incendiarism.

In Humaga area in Danao, damage on the 1,200 saplings due to incendiarism in the two hectares of timberland planted by SNTI in 2013 had been estimated to reach P20,400.

Damaged trees in the area included 2.5-meter tall Thailand Acasia, Mangium and Cashew.

Canda said replanting will be done at the onset of the rainy season in these areas.

The 8.71-hectare plantation of DAP in barangay Dagohoy initiated in 2013 and 2014 has also been affected.

A total of 54 hectares of forestation project of Rice Land Paradise Multipurpose Cooperative(RIPAMCO) also incurred damage from forest fire.

Affected areas in Ubay included projects initiated in 2014 such as the 38-hectare project of BTPMC in barangay Bongbong, the 11-hectare project of CFA in barangay San Pascual, and 10-hectare project of barangay Lomangog.

Other areas affected are the 11.165-hectare plantation of barangay Buenavista in Loboc initiated in 2011; the 13.53-hectare project of barangay Anonang in Inabanga initiated in 2014; the one-hectare project of SNTI in Palinpinon, barangay Ilaya in Inabanga affecting 345 trees with estimate damage of P9,610;  the 3.079-hectare project of KANAMACA in Cabasakan, Getafe affecting 1,540 trees with estimated damage of P24,480; the 1.3-hectare project of KUFFARD in Kagawasan, Trinidad; the 6.5-hectare project of SUFA in Sikatuna, Talibon; the 2.729-hectare project of NAMANUGA in Nueva Granada, Buenavista; and the 9.11-hectare project of DUFA.

Damaged trees in barangay Ilaya in Inabanga and barangay Cabasakan in Getafe also included 2.5-meter tall Thailand Acasia, Mangium and Cashew that DENR targets for replanting at the onset of rainy season.