Last week, PENRO Catanduanes granted our request for information on their investigation into the brush fire allegedly caused by kaingin in the mountain above Parongpong island, the largest of the Palumbanes group of islands, on Aug. 4 and 5, 2024.
The team determined that around 14 hectares of grassland and a few trees were burned by the fire that occurred on the hill just above the small community of sitio Palumbanes in barangay Toytoy, Caramoran.
No one was identified to be responsible for setting the blaze that happened alarmingly just a few hundred meters from the NAPOCOR solar-diesel hybrid power plant that supplies the community with 24/7 electricity.
The Palumbanes Island Community Youth Organization (PICYO) deserves credit for raising awareness among the people with regards to kaingin’s negative effects on the environment and the island’s tourism potential as the burned area is reportedly along the route to the popular Binanderahan Hills.
Although only less than 10 percent of the island’s land area has been affected, the youth group should be supported for calling on the barangay council for an investigation and assembly to inform the community on how to protect the island’s natural resources.
We asked PENRO about the law covering kaingin and the office gave our reporter a leaflet on Section 68 of PD 705, as amended, saying that the penalty for kaingin is the same as that for illegal cutting of trees.
A check of the old law shows that kaingeros are covered by Section 69, which penalizes the unlawful occupation or destruction of forest lands with a fine of not less than P500 or more than P20,000, and imprisonment of six months to two years for each offense.
Those found guilty of making kaingin shall be imprisoned for two to four years and ordered to pay 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.
In local courts, those who are caught in possession of illegally cut timber usually resort to plea bargaining, in which case they admit to violation of Sec. 68 and undergo probation.
The PENRO leaflet also erroneously indicated that PD 705 was amended by EO No. 227, Series of 1987, which turned out to be an amendment to the Family Code. The correct EO number is 277.
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Atty. Dexter Francisco forwarded a copy of the COMELEC’s Calendar of Activities in connection with the May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE) and among those slated this August is on the 30th, the last day to submit Sworn Information Update Statement (SIUS) by registered political parties or coalition of political parties to the Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD).
Ahead of this deadline, PBBM’s Partido Federal Party (PFP) forged an alliance with the Nacionalista Party of the Villar family.
It becomes the fourth party to do so after the Lakas-CMD, Nationalist People’s Coalition, and the National Unity Party.
How these alliances would affect the choice of candidates at the local level would be seen by September (the last day is on the 28th), when political parties are supposed to hold conventions to select and nominate official bets for all elective positions.
The situation in Catanduanes could be problematic as the Cua group is with Lakas while Cong. Eulogio Rodriguez is a Partido Federal member.
Would it be a free zone for all local positions if the opposing politicians want to field their own candidates? Or will Gov. Cua be given the power to nominate all other local bets, with the battle for the congressional seat a free zone?
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TWO JOKES. (1) A college student in a philosophy class was taking his first examination. On the paper, there was a single line that simply said, “Is this a question? — Discuss.”
After a short time, he wrote, “If that is a question, then this is an answer.”
The student received an “A” on the exam.
(2) A college student on spring break is having a conversation with his Dad.
“So how are your classes?” asks the father.
“Good.”
“How’s the football team doing?”
“Okay.”
“Making new friends?”
“Some.”
“What are you thinking of majoring in?”
“Communications.”