๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ญ, ๐ฃ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐ ๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌย
As part of its watershed protection and rehabilitation efforts, the National Power Corporation strengthens measures and taps local organizations to prevent forest fires in Benguet mountains. Through its Upper Agno River Watershed Area Team (UARWAT), the corporation conducted a second consultation among Bokod and Itogon stakeholders to finalize the Forest Fire Management Plan and discuss the technical cooperation plans between NPC-UARWAT and SN Aboitiz Power โ Benguet, Inc. (SNAPBI).
Participants included barangay officials, SNAPBI officers, representatives of indigenous peopleโs organizations, Ambuklao Patrol Base of the Philippine Army, and NPC officials.
The consultation, being an integral part of implementing programs in the area, led to valuable suggestions from the elders on how to educate people better on the negative effects of forest fires and in making more effective information and education campaign materials.
SNAPBI also expressed its willingness to provide assistance in implementing the Plan and in partnering with NPC in protecting the watershed reservation.
Meanwhile, to inculcate the value of forest protection in young minds, UARWAT has organized school-based IEC campaigns in Bokod, Benguet.
On March 21, UARWAT in partnership with the Bureau of Fire Protection held a learning session on forest fire, fire safety, and suppression with the teachers and students of Bokod National Highschool.
On March 28, UARWAT held another learning session suited for younger children to cater to the grade school pupils of Kawal Elementary School.
NPC believes that the youth can be effective agents of forest and biodiversity protection.
NPC-UARWAT has also joined the local governmentโs activities to celebrate Fire Prevention Month, particularly in the kick-off motorcade and the culminating activity of constructing a fireline at the Ambuklao communal forest.
Upper Agno River Watershed, one of the 11 watershed areas managed by NPC, is categorized as a critical watershed and protected area. It covers a total area of 123,000 hectares and falls within the territories of Benguet, Mountain Province, and Nueva Vizcaya.
