'Form task force vs illegal logging in Sierra Madre'

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – Fearing that the massive flooding spawned by tropical storm “Sendong” in Mindanao could happen in provinces near the Sierra Madre, priests and environmentalists have joined hands in appealing to President Aquino to create a task force to look into the situation at the mountain range.

In an open letter to the President, officials of the Save Sierra Madre Network Alliance (SSMNA) said the proposed body, to be called Presidential Task Force on Anti-Illegal Logging and Environmental Law Enforcement, should be autonomous from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Martin Francisco, SSMNA vice chairman, said the condition of Sierra Madre is “not good.” He cited the unabated illegal logging, charcoal making, illegal mining and syndicates selling fake land contracts in the area.

The Sierra Madre is the country’s longest mountain range that runs through the northeastern coast of Luzon. It starts in the province of Cagayan in the north and ends in Quezon in the south.

“Typhoon Sendong revived the memories of the disaster in Ormoc, which killed 10,000 people, as well as disasters in Gingsaugon, Quezon, Aurora, Bicol, and Panay due to logging. When will a real logging moratorium be implemented to stop the destruction of nature?” asked SSMNA chair Pete Montallana.

He claimed that the Aquino administration’s log ban, National Greening Program and “social fencing” strategy to curb the spate of killings of forest guards, were “mere press releases.” He alleged that the DENR has been numb to reports of environment destruction.

SSMNA’s letter to the President also seeks the protection of secondary forests and the declaration of a moratorium on mining.