DENR to reduce Caraga checkpoints

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines  – Acting on a directive from Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje, the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it is reducing the number of checkpoints across the Caraga region by 60 to 70 percent.

In a press statement, Edilberto Buiser, officer-in-charge of the DENR regional office, however, said they would retain some checkpoints, especially those critical to the government’s anti-illegal logging campaign.

Paje, in a memorandum, explained why he has to order the closure of some checkpoints, foremost of which were the many complaints from logging companies in the region.

These logging firms complained that the presence of several checkpoints or joint monitoring stations of local governments, the DENR and the Army only increases their transaction cost or overhead expenses.

Some logging companies, and even mining firms, alleged that some checkpoint personnel would demand sums from their truck drivers and their assistants.

Some small tree farmers, vegetable farmers, ordinary motorists and civil society groups have referred to these checkpoints as “cashpoints.”