Duterte orders Central 911 to help quell Mt. Apo fire

DAVAO CITY --PRESIDENTIAL candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte has ordered Central 911 to respond to a reported massive fire on Mt. Apo that has affected more than 100 hectares of forest cover.Duterte, who is running for the presidency with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as his vice presidential bet, yesterday called for urgent action to help quell the forest fire that broke out at around 1 p.m. of March 26 on the country’s highest peak.The Davao City Mayor’s order came after dozens of trekkers, who climbed Mt. Apo during the Holy Week, were evacuated as Makilala and Magpet Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel in North Cotabato have been trying to fight the forest fire.According to North Cotabato tourism officer Joey Recimilla, as of Sunday morning the forest fire, which is only about 2 kilometers from Lake Venado, has continued to spread.Lake Venado is said to be adjacent to the reforestation sites in Makilala town.If not contained, Recimilla expressed fear that the fire could penetrate the Kidapawan-Magpet-Makilala eco-triangle. Davao City's 911 units are always ready to respond if necessary, he said referring to Davao City’s Emergency Response Team that addresses calls needing police assistance and any type of emergency.Davao City’s Emergency Response units have gone providing assistance beyond Davao City.It can be recalled that in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda, Duterte sent medical teams and personnel of Central 911 to help in the massive search and rescue operations in the battered Tacloban City.Duterte also called for long term action on watershed management and forest protection especially in important watersheds like Mt. Apo. Mt. Apo is not only a tourist spot, and adventure for taking selfies, but mountains and volcanoes with forests help manage the effects of climate change and, he said. El Nino is undeniably here. We need less talk and more action to protect or enhance nature around us, since our survival depends on it, especially the rural poor, Duterte added.