DENR stricter against illegal cutting of trees

CEBU, Philippines - Cutting down trees and transporting them require different permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

DENR Regional Executive Director Maximo Dichoso explained after a team from their agency caught a certain Pablo Paran of Sitio Antuanga, Barangay Quiot Pardo, Cebu City who was cutting government-planted trees without the necessary permit in Barangay Toong.

The team from DENR chanced upon this while they were verifying reports on the allegedly rampant illegal cutting of trees. DENR also conducted actual ground survey of the burned forest tree plantation within the 630-hectare Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve (BWFR).

Dichoso said that BWFR is part of the proclaimed and consolidated protected area of Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL) pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 9486.

Confiscated from the suspect was a sharp bolo, a saw and 19 pieces of freshly-cut log bolts of mahogany and bingliw tree species which yielded a total volume of about 0.488 cubic meters with a market value of P14,130.20.

DENR Forester Ariel N. Rica said the confiscated forest products together with the tools and implements used by the suspect in committing the crime are now deposited at the DENR Buhisan Station under the custody of Forest Guard Sergio Mamitis.

With the assistance of PO3 Virgilio Bug-atan and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Cebu City Forest Protection personnel, a criminal case has been filed in court last April 24 against Paran for violating Section 77 of Presidential Decree 705.

Paran has been transferred to the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) in Brgy. Kalunasan, Cebu City.

Dichoso said full implementation of environmental laws will be strictly enforced as they received instructions from DENR Secretary Ramon Paje to step up and conduct an aggressive campaign against the rampant and indiscriminate illegal cutting of trees and apprehend violators.

“Cutting of trees within the CCPL area is a clear violation of existing environmental laws and we want to protect the trees planted there as we are very much concerned on the bush fire incidence in the area,” he added. — (FREEMAN)