‘Mass invasion’ of Picop’s forestland feared

All is set for the "mass invasion" of a vast tract of forestland in the Caraga region by hordes of kaingeros, illegal loggers, log poachers and squatters.

Alfredo Reyes, chairman of the Citizens Log Watch, said that thousands of people are massing up along the fringes of the Picop concession area, ready to enter it at any given time.

He said land speculators have been hiring dump trucks to ferry the illegal entrants to various points of the concession area that Picop would vacate.

He said the recent Supreme Court decision penned by First Division Justice Minita Chico-Nazario divesting Picop of 76,000 hectares of its concession practically opened the floodgates to landgrabbers long salivating for Picop’s well-maintained forestland.

"In a matter of weeks the only remaining forest in the Caraga region nurtured and maintained by Picop Resources Inc. for more than 50 years will be gone, gobbled up as if by hungry piranhas," he lamented.

The decision reversed the Court of Appeals’ decision granting Picop’s application for an integrated forest management agreement (IFMA) based on evidence presented that it had complied with all requirements.

The Supreme Court found glaring Picop’s non-compliance with certain administrative rules like its failure to submit a five-year forest protection plan and a seven-year reforestation plan and pay P167.6 million in overdue forest charges.

However, the decision puzzled Picop’s management, which disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange that they have an ongoing 10-year forest protection plan and reforestation plan approved by former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Fulgencio Factoran up to the year 2000.

On the alleged non-payment of forest charges, Picop submitted certifications from the CENRO Bislig office that no forest charges were due from the company and a clearance from former Secretary Victor Ramos that Picop had no arrears with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.