DENR suspends log operations in Aurora

BALER, Aurora ,Philippines  – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has suspended logging operations in the province in line with Executive Order 23 issued by President Aquino directing a moratorium on tree-cutting in natural and residual forests nationwide.

Ricardo Calderon, DENR regional executive director for Central Luzon, told The STAR that logging activities of five major concessionaires have been stopped.

He said to ensure that the companies comply with the directive, they have sealed all sawmills and ordered pulled out all heavy equipment deployed in concession areas.

Affected by the suspension order were the Industries Development Corp. and sister firm RCC Timber Co. Inc., CKY Trading, San Roque Sawmill, Benzon Realty Corp. and Pacific Timber Co.

IDC, whose president is Michael Ong, is considered the largest logging concessionaire in the province. It has an integrated forest management agreement covering 48,877 hectares in the northern towns of Dilasag and Casiguran which is to expire on Dec. 5,2026.

It also has log and lumber dealer permit which is set to expire on Oct. 31,2012.

In his letter to Ong, Calderon said the IDC’s wood processing plant permits for sawmill and veneer, including log and lumber dealer permits are suspended pending review and evaluation of its area and operation.

Alfredo Collado, DENR community environment and natural resources officer for northern Aurora based in Barangay Calangcuasan, Casiguran, said a composite team from the office of DENR provincial officer Benjamin Mina and the CENRO has conducted an inventory of the cut logs stockpiled in the IDC’s log ponds in Barangay Dibacong and Dinadiawan and in its cutting areas.

Calderon said that a regional task force will validate the results of the inventory. He said his office has started the deployment of Bantay-Gubat in concession areas where logging operations have stopped.