Anti-illegal logging still a priority of Aquino administration

MANILA, Philippines - The campaign against illegal logging and corruption remains a top priority of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under the Aquino administration, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje said.

 “The DENR has not wavered in its fight against illegal logging and other environmental law violations. Despite the threat and harassment, the government is making headways against illegal logging.”

In July this year, Paje said the DENR launched “Oplan Kalasangan” in the timber-rich regions of Cagayan Valley and Eastern Mindanao which resulted in the confiscation of 14,760 pieces of illegally-sourced timber with a volume of 2,924,694.98 board feet.

The confiscated forest products were donated to the Department of Education and to local government units.

To curb graft and corruption at the forestry checkpoints, the DENR has rationalized the number of checkpoints and reduced them to include only the most strategic locations.

As of last October, a total of 157 checkpoints had been removed nationwide, with only 117 “essential” checkpoints remaining.

The DENR chief said the government is not oblivious to the hazards that forest protection officers are faced with in the performance of their duties.

“We know very well the hazards being faced by our own people in the field; that they are actually playing with “kamatayan” (death) every time they are sent out to check on reports of illegal logging incidences. But then, this is our job. And I genuinely appreciate our field people, including those of well-meaning environmental groups, who continue to believe in our mission to protect our environment not only for this generation but also for generations of Filipinos that will come after us,” said Paje.

Paje expressed appreciation for Malacañang’s move to beef up the department’s anti-illegal logging task force with police and military assistance.

Paje announced the appointment of retired Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, whose military background would be a “big plus” in strengthening the DENR’s Environmental Law Enforcement Task Force.