INTENSIFIED DRIVE. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Caraga Region says intensified campaigns against illegal logging in the area during the first four months of 2020 resulted in the confiscation of over PHP8.4 million of illegally-cut logs and lumber products. Twenty-three cases have also been filed against 40 individuals for violating the country's forestry laws. (Photo courtesy of DENR-13 Information Office)
BUTUAN CITY – Intensified anti-illegal logging drives during the first quarter of 2020 conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Caraga Region (DENR-13) resulted in the confiscation of some 294,069 board feet of illegal logs and lumber products worth over PHP8.4 million.
DENR-13 Executive Director Felix S. Alicer said Wednesday (May 13) a number of anti-timber poaching operations were conducted within the months when lockdowns were imposed in different provinces in the region to contain the spread of the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
“We noted pockets of illegal cutting activities by poachers who took advantage of the existing health crisis situation in the region,” Alicer said.
He warned violators that that DENR-13 and its provincial and municipal enforcers have never relaxed the monitoring on the movements of illegal forest products in the area.
“Most of these illegal products were transported in closed vans and in single motorcycles locally known as habal-habal,” he said.
Aside from illegally-obtained forest products, Alicer also bared the confiscation of 73 units of conveyances used in the transport of illegal forest products, 64 implements and equipment, and paraphernalia utilized in the processing of illegal forest products with a total value of PHP468,700.
During the period, 23 cases have already been filed in court against 40 individuals for violating the forestry laws in the country. Of the total persons charged, 24 have already posted bail while 16 continue to remain in detention.
Alicer commended the efforts of provincial officers Joey Flavio Concha in Agusan del Sur, Rosendo Asunto in Agusan del Norte, Maritess Ocampo in Surigao del Norte, Achilles Anthony Ebron in Surigao del Sur, and Agapito Patubo in the Province of Dinagat Islands.
The officials, he said, showed dedication .in performing their tasks for the protection of the government timberlands in the region. "These officers and their personnel continued their watch to our timberlands while at the same time provided support to the unified efforts of local government units (LGUs) in the fight against Covid-19," he said.
He also expressed gratitude to the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the area for the support they provided during the series of anti-poaching operations. (PNA)
