DENR beefs up drive vs illegal logging in Region 6

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has joined hands with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), police and military to intensify the anti-illegal logging campaign in Western Visayas.

DENR-Western Visayas executive director Adeluisa Siapno said during the launch of the partnership last Monday that the newly created provincial anti-illegal logging task forces will be a big boost to the regional task force in addressing illegal logging in Region 6.

Siapno added that the creation of provincial task forces is also a “strategic move” on the part of DENR and its partner-agencies “to further protect the remaining forest resources of Western Visayas.”

During the launch, a memorandum of agreement was signed among the provincial environment and natural resources officers, provincial DILG officials, police, and the Army’s 82nd and 61st Infantry Battalions.

Siapno said the creation of the regional and provincial task forces would beef up the government’s campaign against illegal logging, as they are capable of assisting the DENR in enforcing environmental laws.

Section 3 of Executive Order 23 provides for the creation of anti-illegal logging task forces to enforce the moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in natural and residual forests.

Siapno appealed to residents of Region 6 to continue to be vigilant in protecting forest resources, particularly against forest fires.

Recently, a forest fire in Don Salvador Benedicto town in Negros Occidental damaged at least two hectares of new plantations put up under the National Greening Program.

“While we are already experiencing some rains, the summer season, as the weather bureau has said, is not yet over,” she said.

Siapno urged farmers to refrain from burning their agricultural waste, as this could trigger grass fire if not properly attended to.

Siapno also warned that open burning of waste is strictly prohibited under the Clean Air Act, as it causes air pollution.