DENR: Very little illegal logging in CV

CEBU, Philippines - With illegal logging being blamed as one of the main reasons behind the landslides and floods in Mindanao during typhoon Pablo, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 assured there is very little illegal logging activities in the region.

However, this is not a reason for the region to be complacent, said Ed Llamedo, public information officer of DENR-7 during the 888 News Forum yesterday at the Marco Polo Plaza.

Llamedo, who spoke on behalf of DENR-7 Regional Director Isabelo Montejo, said that there are minimal reports of illegal logging activities in Central Visayas but we are recipients of lumber products from Samar and provinces in Mindanao and we do not have major catchment basins which could possibly release large amounts of water in low-lying areas during strong typhoons.

But Llamedo said that provinces in the region still need to be cautious, especially in Cebu, which has limestone components in rock formations that are known to absorb water and are highly fractured, reasons for it to break easily causing landslides.

He further explained that the limestone component makes it more dangerous during heavy to intense rainfall and is also the reason why there have been a number of sinkholes reported in the province after earthquakes and typhoons.

Llamedo said that this is why they have been strongly implementing the Geohazard Mapping and Assessment Program of DENR which recognizes specific areas in the country that are prone to landslides and floods.

Llamedo said that in Cebu, there are around 15 to 20 mountain barangays that are highly prone to landslides.

He added that in the assessment they have two categories to fulfill; one has been completed for Central Visayas.

According to Llamedo, the semi-detailed scale, which is an assessment per barangay, has been completed in all 3,003 barangays in the region which have all been given geohazard threat advisories that include findings, recommendations on relocations sites if disasters take place and other vital information.

As per the other category which is on an assessment on a sitio basis, Llamedo said that they have so far completed 12 municipalities in Central Visayas, specifically in Negros Oriental and the southern part of Cebu.

Llamedo said that as per the directive of the DENR Secretary Ramon Paje, they would need to complete the sitio assessment by 2014.

Llamedo said that they have also provided geohazard advisories to these sitios, including the Southern parts of Cebu which have incurred the most damage in the whole province during the course of typhoon “Pablo.”

He said that prior to the typhoon, they have aggressively followed up on the sitios to revisit the geohazard maps. But he said that while some heeded their call, others may not have gone through the advisories they provided.

Llamedo said that this is why they are pushing for local chief executives to take the geohazard advisories seriously to prevent untoward incidents.  —  (FREEMAN)