Alvarez cites wood industry

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Heherson T. Alvarez cited the wood industry yesterday as an indispensable partner of the government in the protection of the country’s forests, as the sector celebrates its 50th founding year on Friday, Aug. 31, 2001.

Alvarez will be the guest speaker of the Philippine Wood Producers Association, the umbrella organization of wood producers, processors, importers and exporters, at its 50th general membership and golden anniversary celebration to be held at the grand ballroom of the Century Park Hotel in Manila.

Alvarez stressed that the PWPA is the bulwark of sustainable development in the forests in pursuit of new directions, considering that the forest is not only a timber resource but also represents the watersheds, acts as a carbon sink and is a rich source of biodiversity and integral part of our life support system.

It will be noted that the most protected forest sites belong to areas covered by timber license agreements and industrial tree plantations.

The occasion will also mark two membership fora where problems and other concerns of the wood industry and its sub-sectors will be discussed including forest management, industrial tree plantation, wood processing and marketing of products, imports and export are expected to be discussed.

PWPA chairman Antonio Bernas also announced that a lunch program in honor of past Ministry of Natural Resources/Department of Environment and Natural Resources leaders will be tendered during the same day.

Consultations with key officials of DENR agencies concerned will also be held, Ferdie Lu, PWPA president added.

Exhibits and documentary videos will also be presented during the day-long celebration.