Bulacan
government acts on illegal logging
By:
Chrissa Anne B. Palma
Facing heavy downpour in the mountain rails paid off as Provincial Multi-Sectoral Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force (PAILTF) succesfully seized some 3, 857 board feet of illegally cut logs in Sitio Ipo, San Mateo, Norzagaray town last July 17.
Under Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado's
executive order last November 2012, PAILTF was formed along with Bulacan Environment
and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) headed by Eugenio Payongayong, Department
of Environment and Natural Resources, National Power Corporation, Angat
Watershed Area under team leader Mendel Garcia, Sagip Sierra Madre
Environmental Society, Philippine Military and Bulacan’s Philippine National
Police and they were tasked to focus on fighting timber poachers.
Bro. Martin Francisco of Sagip Sierra Madre
Environmental Society shared that during their operation, it was evident that
the houses have just been abandoned by the occupants who probably ran away in
fear of getting caught. But he still sees hope in capturing the fugitives.
“May mga sticker ng census sa bahay. Most probably
makukuha natin ang pangalan ng may-ari ng bahay sa barangay,” Franciso said.
Mendel Garcia, of Angat Watershed Area said
the confiscated cut logs are composed of white lauan, guijo, yakal and kamagong, all are prime species.
The seized hot
logs, which are hard wood, were turned over to BENRO to be used in the
production of chairs and tables for different schools in Bulacan.
The timber
poachers, when caught, would get a punishment of not less than six years and
one day in jail and depending on the gravity, it could lead up to twelve or
eighteen years behind bars. Depending on the volume of the logs illegally cut,
the offenders would also be fined charges.
PAILTF also shared that they
passed a bill in the congress called Forest Resources Bill (FRB). The said bill
is about allowing legal cutting of logs for our country’s wood industry.
“Pero sa tingin din namin na ang Pilipinas ay kulang na kulang sa gubat.
Kaya minumungkahi naming isa hindi lang ang primary forest – `yong mga hindi pa
nagagalaw na forest – sa commercial logging ang secondary forest – `yon `yong tinayo, tinamin at gubat na
gubat na. Minumungkahi namin na isasama na rin `yon sa huwag ila-logging. So
pinagtatalunan pa na baka raw wala na tayong gamiting kahoy,” Francisco
said.
They also shared that they are
careful on carrying out operations, so there won’t be leakage of information to
spies.
“Hindi naman titigil `yan kung bibigyan mo ng livelihood. They will
not. Kaya ang nakikita naming more
effective [solution] ay regulation. Kailangang mahigpit na mahigpit. Kung puro
ka lang livelihood, walang
reforestration, tree-planting, wala rin,” Francisco added.
