People’s organizations prepared for forest fire suppression

Firefighting tools were distributed to People’s Organizations in Kapangan and Kibungan last May 17 & 18, 2016 to arm them for watershed conservation after a series of firefighting trainings were conducted in March of the same year. Forest fires are a major threat to the Upper Amburayan Watershed where communities engage mostly in agriculture. Farmers often use fire to clear or expand their agricultural land which left untended leads to widespread forest fires.

PIPCA is only one of the People’s Organizations in Benguet who stand in the frontlines of forest conservation. Fires, agricultural land expansion, mining and large-scale logging have eaten away Benguet’s watersheds and fighting for its protection is a task that has become increasingly difficult.  However, the presence of people and organizations determined to protect its resources strengthens hopes for a greener future.The Palina Indigenous People Community Association (PIPCA) of Barangay Palina, Kibungan, Benguet was one of the People’s Organizations who received the tools. PIPCA is an active organization deeply involved with forest conservation. Aside from protecting their forests from fires, PIPCA also organized demonstrations and blockades against a large scale mining company that tried to enter their barangay in 2010. The mining company filed a civil case against PIPCA’s officers to strong-arm them to agree to a mining concession but the officers were unfazed. The legal battle dragged on for years and eventually the mining company withdrew. Kagawad Oswaldo Panggayyan, vice-chairman of PIPCA remarks, “The lands are owned by the future generations and it must be protected from destructive mining”.

Protecting and Defending the Amburayan River Basin and Watershed through Good Governance and Active Peoples’ Participation is a project funded by the USAID through the Gerry Roxas Foundation (GRF) and is implemented by the Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation Inc.  (JVOFI).