DENR Sec Roy Cimatu orders review of 104 forest licenses

MANILA, Philippines — Following the flash floods and mudslides that occurred in the Zamboanga peninsula last month, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu yesterday ordered the review of all the Integrated Forest Management Agreements (IFMAs) granted to 104 private companies nationwide.

“We will make (the IFMA holders) accountable if we find that there were violations in what are supposed to be their obligation to help manage the forest and not to be the culprit behind such environmental degradation,” Cimatu said in a statement.

Cimatu directed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources team to conduct an evaluation of the IFMA sites, which include the area in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte being managed by Dacon Group of Companies.

Cimatu’s directive came after President Duterte blamed Dacon Group’s South Davao Development Co. Inc. (Sodaco) and Sirawai Plywood & Lumber Corp. (SPLC) for the flash floods and mudslides that killed more than 40 people in Zamboanga del Norte at the height of Typhoon Vinta last December.

Cimatu had earlier ordered the suspension of operations of the two companies following the incident.

He also gave the DENR’s 12-member probe team until Jan. 12 to complete its investigation of the Dacon areas that were cited as the deforested portion of the Zamboanga mountain range.

A video of the denuded forest was shown to Duterte following the flash floods and mudslides.

According to initial reports from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Zamboanga, the video of the deforested portion was believed to be the site of operation of Sodaco.

An IFMA, which has a validity of 25 years and may be renewed for another 25, serves as a production-sharing contract between the government and a qualified private firm. 

Under the deal, an IFMA holder has the exclusive right to manage, develop and protect a forestland and utilize its resources. provided that the government will have a share in its produce.

Under the agreement, companies are allowed to establish industrial tree plantations in the area but are restricted from cutting residual trees unless authorized by the DENR secretary.