P16-M fine, prison time for trekkers in Mount Pulag fire
Today this is the headline of one of our local newspaper in the Philippines. This caught my attention at once.
About Mount Pulag
Mount Pulag, the highest peak in Luzon, it is a critical biodiversity area due to its rich plant and animal life. This is famous because of its "sea of clouds" and the view of the Milky Way Galaxy at dawn, which has attracted many tourists who wish to see the "other-worldly" scenery.
Because of its high elevation, the climate on Mount Pulag is temperate with rains predominating the whole year. Rainfall on the mountain averages 4,489 millimetres (176.7 in) yearly with August being the wettest month with an average rainfall of 1,135 millimetres (44.7 in). Snow has not fallen on its top in at least the past 100 years; however, there have been mild flurries on the mountain, especially during December, January and February. Frost is more common on the mountain due to the low temperature during those months. During the amihan season, the temperature at the highest point of the mountain is known to dip into sub-freezing temperatures, making it the coldest place in the country. The only recorded incidence of snow was in the late 1800s.
Nature lover to Nature destroyer.
Last January 20, 2018 a group of seven mountain trekker triggered the fire. The trekkers’ butane stove burst at a campsite. One of them panicked and threw the burning stove toward the grassland, causing damage of 5.9 hectares.
According to Section 69 of Presidential Decree No. 705
Section 69. Unlawful occupation or destruction of forest lands. Any person who enters and occupies or possesses, or makes kaingin for his own private use or for others any forest land without authority under a license agreement, lease, license or permit, or in any manner destroys such forest land or part thereof, or causes any damage to the timber stand and other products and forest growths found therein, or who assists, aids or abets any other person to do so, or sets a fire, or negligently permits a fire to be set in any forest land shall, upon conviction, be fined in an amount of not less than five hundred pesos (P500.00) nor more than twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) and imprisoned for not less than six (6) months nor more than two (2) years for each such offense, and be liable to the payment of ten (10) times the rental fees and other charges which would have been accrued had the occupation and use of the land been authorized under a license agreement, lease, license or permit: Provided, That in the case of an offender found guilty of making kaingin, the penalty shall be imprisoned for not less than two (2) nor more than (4) years and a fine equal to eight (8) times the regular forest charges due on the forest products destroyed, without prejudice to the payment of the full cost of restoration of the occupied area as determined by the Bureau.
Because of this law which they damaged 5.9 hectares of grassland at Mount Pulag may end up paying P16 million and serving six years in prison.
Conclusion
Serves them right. Many of these hikers are ignorant and irresponsible. Someone who panics in a situation like that shouldn't be allowed to hike, and I wonder if any of those people even know first aid and basic conservation of nature. Those portable stoves and butane canisters have explosion/fire risks that hikers should know how to manage.
The punishment will serve as lesson to them, justice for all!!!
photos taken in visualhunt
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