Bogo Hills Burned

BARANGAY BOGO, MAASIN CITY – A massive forest fire ignited by a still unidentified cigarette smoker razed the northern section of the Bogo foothills and incinerated over 2000 three year-old Acacia-Mangium trees which were planted there by volunteers. The reforestation effort was one of the centerpiece projects of Congressman Roger Mercado.

The nine hour blaze which started at 2 p.m. last Sunday was finally extinguished by responding firemen who put out the brush fire before it reached the barangay houses. The ravaged area is part of the 64 hectare former cogon land which had been reforested.

According to Bogoan Lani Ambalong the fire which started along the foot path leading to Barangay Rizal was the second to hit the hills in two years.

Fel Gantala, the OIC of the Bogo Reforestation Project, told SLT his “Mountain Boys” tried to stop the fire but it was too big and the winds were too strong. “We just focussed our manpower around the residential areas since they were directly in the fire’s path.”Gantala said they had planted more than 170,000 trees in Bogo since the congressman launched the program in 2007.(By: Mark Rimas)

Other News

Pageant for a Cause

Manny Villar invades "Gibo Country"

Only 6 pass CSC exam

Vital Road Inaugurated

Manny Pacquiao a Billionare

As I See It: Road to Salvation

Comelect List of Local Candidates for the May 10, 2010 National Elections