Mt. Banahaw pilgrims to be investigated for forest fire

(Updated 12:59 p.m.) The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is set to investigate at least 13 pilgrims who allegedly caused a forest fire in Mount Banahaw in Quezon Province.

According to a report on GMA News TV's News To Go on Friday, based on initial investigation, lit candles left by pilgrims caused the fire that razed about 50 hectares of forest land.

Though they are still looking at other factors, Fire Chief Insp. Glenn Salazar, Regional Fire Safety Enforcement Branch chief, said they are ruling out the possibility that the fire was caused by radiation from the sun.

"Unang-una, nangyari 'yan ng gabi," he said. "Base sa aming understanding, ang lupa sa Banahaw is moist, kagaya sa Makiling, kaya ang tendency diyan, hindi pupuwedeng attributed ito sa radiation, transfer of heat coming from the sun."

The report noted that 22 pilgrims on Sunday allegedly sought permission to climb the mountain but were denied by the DENR-Protected Area.

However, at least 13 people were reported to have gone up the mountain, it added.

On Thursday, five of them were confirmed rescued from the mountain, while six others were left behind to search for two other missing companions, the report said.

On Friday, authorities have sent a team to rescue the missing pilgrims, it added.
 

According to an earlier "24 Oras" report, the five pilgrims were identified as members of the  Bundok Banahaw Incorporated group.

In 2009, the DENR started closing to the public about 11 hectares of Mt. Banahaw under Republic Act 9847 or the Mt. Banahaw Act to give the mountain a few years to recuperate from the destruction caused by the influx of pilgrims.

According to RA 9847, the ban is in effect until 2015, and pilgrims who went up the mountain without approval from the DENR-PASU may be slapped with a fine of P5,000 or be penalized with imprisonment of one year.

Though some parts of the mountain are still open to public, the DENR said that if proven that the fire was man-made, they might recommend the closure of the entire mountain, “24 Oras” reported.

'Be more vigilant'

Meanwhile, environmental group Greenpeace urged Filipinos "to be more vigilant in protecting what remains of our dwindling forests."

"Greenpeace laments the recent fires that razed close to 190 hectares of forests and grasslands near the summit of Mt. Banahaw and neighboring Mt. Cristobal in Sariaya, Quezon," it said in a statement.

The group also encouraged consumers to buy palm oil from suppliers that are not involved in forest destruction.

"These forests are decimated at the pace of 620,000 hectares a year with the palm oil sector as the single biggest driver of deforestation from 2009 to 2011," it said.

"Palm oil is an important ingredient in products such as soaps, detergents, shampoo, cosmetics and food items such as chocolates, cookies and cooking oil," it added. "Greenpeace recently launched a worldwide campaign to challenge consumers to guard against everyday products that may be using palm oil sourced from forest destruction. — Amanda Fernandez/KG/RSJ, GMA News