DENR official meets folks for dialogue on Banacon

CEBU, Philippines - Harvesting of mangroves is banned and that those found to have violated Republic Act 7161 which guarantees protection of coastal forests would be dealt with accordingly.

This was emphasized by Dioscoro Milana, technical director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7, during a meeting with the people of Banacon in Getafe town, Bohol and the stakeholders of the Banacon Mangrove Forest earlier reported to be denuded.

Last Thursday, at the Banacon barangay hall, Milana pointed out to his audience that the law clearly prohibits harvesting of mangroves now that these are fast becoming extinct.

For five decades already, the people of Banacon harvest the mangroves any time they wish to, for the reason that they and their forebears have planted the mangroves which now comprise most of the 600 hectares of mangrove plantation in the area. This was also confirmed by the DENR, saying that only a portion of the forest is natural, a big part is “man-made” or a product of extensive and intensive reforestation efforts.

However, Milana, in a public forum with the barangay residents shortly after the meeting, informed them that “for as long as there is that law (RA 7161), bawal ang harvesting.”

According to the DENR report, the 600-hectare Banacon Mangrove Forest, which is considered as one of Bohol’s eco-tourism destinations because of its lush mangrove plantation and pristine waters at the “highways” (or gaps of the forest made to allow shallow boats to pass through), is actually 200 hectares less brought about by overharvesting.

At least 10,000 poles of mangroves reportedly cut from this plantation are allegedly shipped each week to the neighboring barangays or here in Cebu to be utilized as posts for the seaweed farms, as materials for furniture, or as fuel wood, among others.

Dioscoro Canlubo III, president of the Banacon Fisherfolks and Mangrove Planters Association said that it is hard on their part to protect the entire area, considering that most planters, who claim ownership of parts of the plantation, are not their members.

It was only at the start of this month that the DENR posted wardens at the said forest.

In 2002, BAFMAPA was issued the DENR Community Based Forest Management Agreement for the entire 1,700-hectare Banacon Island, of which includes the forest.

Under the agreement, the BAFMAPA has the “sole” right to manage the plantation, Milana said.

However, Canlubo said that most planters do not recognize their organization, as according to them, the mangroves were planted by their grandfathers; hence, they deserve to harvest them.

Canlubo also said that they cannot implement what is in the agreement, as planters would still go ahead with the cutting down of mangroves, and that they cannot stop them for fear that such would only spawn conflict with the non-BAFMAPA people.

Planters reportedly do not want to become a part of BAFMAPA, as they “don’t want to adhere to the organization’s strict policies,” Canlubo added.

The FREEMAN toured the forest and noticed that while the inner parts of the forests are already empty, its outskirts are now balding.— Liv G. Campo/MEEV