Wood sector pays tribute to Don Antonio de las Alas

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Wood Producers Association (PWPA) will join the business and civic sectors in commemorating the 120th birth anniversary of Don Antonio de las Alas, to be held tomorrow Feb. 11, 2010, at the Philippine Columbian Association in Plaza Dilao, Paco, Manila.

PWPA president Antonio Olizon said his national organization of corporations involved in industrial tree plantation development and wood products manufacturing is paying tribute to Don Antonio de las Alas in gratitude for the immense services and contributions he has done for the wood industry.

De las Alas was the first, and for 16 consecutive years, president of the Philippine Lumber Producers Association (PLPA), the predecessor-in-interest of PWPA. He was already an esteemed and distinguished man of the country before joining the PLPA. He served as speaker in the first Independence Congress and later senator of the Republic. He was head of various offices of the executive department from the time of the American governors-general among them Theodore Roosevelt who later became US President to Commonwealth President Manuel Quezon up to President Ferdinand Marcos.

It was during his incumbency as president of PLPA (1949-1965) that the wood industry rose from the destruction wrought by World War II to become one of the economic pillars of the postwar reconstruction period of the Philippines.

De las Alas led the Philippine trade mission to the US and obtained the recognition for local timber as Philippine Mahogany, that became widely accepted in the international market. It was during his time as president of PLPA that more sawmills and plywood and veneer mills were established and made the export of timber and timber products as the third largest foreign exchange earner.

Don Antonio de las Alas was made honorary president for life in 1965 by the PLPA.