Vizcaya natives seek relief of DENR men

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Residents of a mountain barangay here which hosts the Casecnan multi-purpose irrigation and power project have asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to relieve its personnel involved in the illegal cutting of trees in their watershed before placing them under investigation.

Last week, the residents asked Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Michael Defensor to investigate what they described as the unabated cutting of narra and other forest trees in the Casecnan watershed, especially in Barangays Pelaway and Lipuga in Alfonso Castañeda town.

But the villagers’ spokesman, who refused to be identified, said the DENR should first relieve its employees who, together with certain policemen, have been conniving with the illegal loggers in transporting illegally cut logs.

Despite their exposé, the group’s spokesman said the illegal cutting of trees and the transport of the contraband persist despite the presence of police and DENR-manned checkpoints from Barangay Pelaway to San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, where buyers wait for the "hot" logs.

Forester Roberto Apigo earlier admitted having received reports about the illegal cutting of trees and lumber poaching in the Casecnan area.

Apigo, however, claimed there were "just isolated cases," adding that the provincial environment and natural resources office has initiated efforts to contain illegal logging in the watershed.

Apigo said he has instructed his men to scour areas where the illegal cutting of trees is reportedly taking place.

He also warned that he would work for the dismissal of any of his men found involved in illegal logging.

For his part, Senior Superintendent Robert Mangaccat, provincial police director, vowed to investigate the alleged involvement of certain policemen in the transport of the illegally cut forest products.

Alfonso Castañeda Vice Mayor Jerry Pasigian said the illegal activity actually started after the completion of the Casecnan multi-purpose irrigation and power project.

Perhaps, he said, the lack of an alternative livelihood forced a number of villagers to resort to illegal cutting of trees in the Casecnan watershed.

According to a Bugkalot native from Barangay Pelaway, the illegal loggers might be "exploiting" some of his fellow natives to cut trees in exchange for a "measly" sum.

"If they are really engaged in the illegal cutting of trees, I’m sure they are only doing this to survive. They have to sustain their family’s immediate needs," the native said in the dialect.

Besides Pelaway, Barangays Lipuga and Abuyo as well as Talbec and Abaca in Dupax del Sur town are the major "impact zones" of the Casecnan project.