P-Noy cites Butuan Mayor for drive vs illegal loggers

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has commended Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. for seizing millions worth of hot timber and crippling the operations of illegal loggers in villages surrounding the city.

Aquino, in his State of the Nation Address, singled out Amante for his relentless drive against illegal loggers.

“Illegal logging has long been a problem. From the time we signed Executive Order No. 23, Mayor Jun Amante has confiscated lumber amounting to more than P6 million. He has our gratitude. This is just in Butuan; what more if all our local government units demonstrated the same kind of political will?” Aquino said.

Signed by Aquino on Feb. 1, 2011, EO 23 declares a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in natural and residual forests.

Aside from targeting illegal logging, Amante has also set his sights on illegal small-scale mining operations in the villages of Maibu, Bilay and Salvacion.

At least 1,000 small-scale miners in these villages use hydrolicking or placer method, which uses huge volumes of water to artificially create erosion and facilitate gold panning downstream.