Atienza asks wood industry leaders to provide livelihood to local communities

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Lito Atienza has asked leaders of the wood industry to provide livelihood to local communities and pay taxes to local government units (LGUs), as he pushed for sustainable practices in the management of forest in the country.

Speaking before stakeholders during the 56th annual general assembly of the Philippine Wood Producers Association (PWPA) last Friday, Atienza stressed that the wood industry players should diligently comply with existing forest management laws and regulations in order to correct common criticism hurled against them.

Companies involved in wood or forest-based products are often perceived as more profit-oriented than being concerned about the sustainability of the country’s forest, including the welfare of communities and LGUs within their respective areas.

 “The utilization of the country’s resources should be governed by responsible environmental practices and striking a balance between economic growth and natural resources conservation,” Atienza said.

“The wood industry is oftentimes misunderstood but this perception will change for the better with compliance with existing laws, rules and regulations governing the utilization of forest-based products,” he said.

 “The members of the PWPA should help shape the future of the nation by providing livelihood to local communities and paying taxes to local government units,” he also said.

PWPA is an organization of wood- producing companies that has about 800 members nationwide. It was founded in 1952 but traced its beginnings in 1934 on the eve of the American civil government.

As this developed, Atienza expressed plans to convince groups like Haribon Philippines, a staunch anti-commercial logging advocate, to link arms with the PWPA.

Today, Atienza will bring these two organizations together, along with 200 other groups many of whom also carry opposite views on environmental and political issues, for a whole-day gathering dubbed as SALUGNAYAN, or Salo-salo at Ugnayan para sa Kalikasan.

Atienza said he would enlist the help of these organizations to implement DENR’s programs that are aimed at cushioning the impacts of climate change.

“The imperatives of climate change, particularly global warming, have become a catalyst of sorts for government and civil society to close ranks. SALUGNAYAN is one example of this, which fuels our common effort to mitigate the impact of climate change, both on a personal and societal scale,” Atienza said.