Seized lumber donated to city for fire victims

CEBU - The 8,000 board feet of illegally shipped coco lumber seized by the Regional Intelligence Division during an operation last month were turned over to the city government yesterday.

Delbert Barraquias, manager of the Cebu provincial office of Coconut Development Authority, said the coco lumber will be given to the victims of the fire that struck Basak-San Nicolas last November 19, which left more than 300 families homeless. At least 100 structures were ravaged by the fire. The coco lumber, estimated to cost P120,000, came from Ozamiz City and were confiscated after authorities found out that its shipment was illegal.Transporting lumber from one province to another is illegal, said the Philippine Coconut Authority.

No one came forward to claim the seized lumber. Following the fire, Sitios Lupa, Bontores and Kamangahan of barangay San Nicolas were declared under state of calamity.

The fire reportedly started at the house of a certain Leonora Tabor where two of her grandchildren were allegedly playing with matches before the incident. An eight-year-old boy was injured in the incident. — Harry Vincent H. Cañeda, CIT Masscom Intern/JMO (THE FREEMAN)