Environmentalists ask DENR to look into online selling of rare species

CEBU, Philippines - An advocate for the environment has called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the netizens to monitor goods, including endangered species, sold through online sites.

Vince Cinches of Greenpeace Southeast Asia has called on DENR to closely look into the OLX.ph, an online buy-and-sell site.

 “I think OLX (.ph) should be monitored by DENR and netizens for trading of endangered species,” said Vince Cinches of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

Cinches’ statement came after an account owner of OLX.ph was allegedly found out selling hatchlings of sulcata tortoises.

The seller, who is reportedly from Mandaue City, however, has pulled out his advertisement.

“I hope OLX will have an internal policy for their sellers not to sell CITES listed species,” he said in reference to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

Cinches said it is not clear yet if sulcata tortoises are endangered or threatened, but added that most turtles are considered endangered and even owning those that are not endangered would require a permit from the DENR.

Cinches said that in 2013 they had called the attention of DENR when a seller of then sulit.com.ph (now bought by OLX) posted a black coral on sale on the said site.

Under the Rules and Policies of OLX, it is not allowed to post ads are in connection with online game accounts, “sale and transact” of virtual currencies, medicines, credit card applications et cetera. — (FREEMAN)