DENR acts to curb illegal logging in Sierra Madre

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 3 has stopped the issuance of transport permits to lumber dealers without legitimate logging concessions in Aurora province.

Newly-installed regional executive director Antonio Principe also ordered a freeze in the issuance of transport permits for manufactured wood, furniture, charcoal, and other forest products out of retrieved wood coming from Aurora. 

“We received marching orders to once and for all put a stop to all these recurring issues of illegal logging in the Sierra Madre. This time, we will not hesitate to apply the one-strike policy on erring DENR field officials, including those who failed to carry out this directive,” he said.

Principe said there are five industrial forest management agreement (IFMA) holders currently operating in 68,764 hectares of forests mostly in northern Aurora, namely: Industries Development Corp. (48,877 ha in Dilasag, Casiguran, and Dinalungan); Pacific Timber Export Corp. (9,280 ha in Dilasag and Casiguran); Benson Realty Development Corp. (982 ha in Diotorin, Bibayabay, and San Luis); San Roque Sawmill Corp. (995 ha in Dikapinisan and San Luis); and CKY World Trading, Inc. (8,630 ha in Dipaculao).

The holders of the said timber concessionaires are also holders of lumber dealership permits, and given their annual allowable cut, should be able to supply the lumber and other wood requirements of Aurora and neighboring provinces, he explained.

With the non-issuance of transport permits to lumber dealers without logging concession permits, the DENR expects to plug the exit of illegally-sourced timber via the Umiray River. Umiray River separates the province of Aurora from the province of Quezon in Southern Luzon. – Benny Enriquez