Wood producers seek selective lifting of log ban

The Philippine Wood Producers Association (PWPA), which represents the legitimate wood-based and wood-producing industries, appealed yesterday to President Arroyo to order the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to immediately lift the temporary suspension of logging activities in areas not affected by the calamities of December 2004.

In a press conference, Evaristo M. Narvaez Jr., vice president for timber of the PWPA, lamented that legitimate logging operations have been unfairly and adversely affected by the suspension.

Narvaez warned that the two-month indefinite suspension is bringing the local wood industry to the brink of closure that would result in the displacement of million of workers.

In fact, Narvaez said, in the next two weeks to one month, some wood processing plants may already have to close if the suspension is not lifted.

Such closures, Narvaez said, could lead to the loss of more than two million jobs in the wood producing and furniture industries and the dissipation of over P20 billion of investments in upstream and downstream wood-based industries.

Additionally, Narvaez said, the indefinite suspension would also risk the loss of about P21 billion annually from the export of high value-added finished wood products.

In the two months alone since all logging operations were suspended, Narvaez said, some $130 million in exports have already been lost.

Narvaez disclosed that wood prices have gone up by 40 percent due to tight supply and expensive import substitutes, adding pressure to rising costs in the furniture, construction and mass housing sector.

Such increases, Narvaez pointed out, ultimately hurts ordinary consumers who buy furniture, construction materials and other wood products.

The country, at this time, Narvaez argued, is in no position to import its annual wood requirements which is estimated at P28 billion.

The PWPA, Narvaez said, has submitted the following recommendations to Malacañang to curb illegal logging operations:

• Continue imposing a total log ban in protection forests all over the country, while allowing sustainable forestry operations in production forest in areas already identified by the government.

• Dismantle all wood-processing plants with or without permits dubiously located in untenured forestlands.

• Revoke all wood-processing permits granted to individual, partnerships or corporations without long-term log supply contracts with legitimate local or foreign sources.

•Propose the creation of a National Timber Board to formulate and implement a master plan for the long-term sustainability of Philippine forests.