DENR to sue mangrove cutter in Camotes Island

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 is set to file a complaint and appropriate charges against a certain Pacito Relampagos for allegedly cutting mangroves in Unidos, San Franscisco, Camotes Island, Cebu.

In a site investigation conducted by the DENR-7 Community Development Office in Carmen, about 42 pagatpat and miapi mangrove species with a total volume of 1.114 cubic meters were allegedly cut down by a certain Jessie Lavisores per instruction of Relampagos to reclaim a portion of that area and plant mahogany and dwarf coconut trees.

Montejo said that such act constitute a violation of Republic Act 7161 otherwise known as the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines and Section 20 of Republic Act 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas system Act of 1992.

He further said that Presidential Proclamation 2146 which was promulgated in 1982 and Republic Act Number 7161 imposed a national ban on cutting of mangroves with certain liabilities.

More than 6,000 mangrove propagules covering about six hectares were planted simultaneously in various coastal areas in the four provinces in Central Visayas during the International Day of Forests celebration recently.

In Cebu, more than 2,000 mangroves were planted in Barangay Talaga, Argao participated in by nearly 200 participants from DENR-7, students and some municipal personnel, aimed to educate the benefits of mangroves in disaster mitigation.

Mangroves provide nursery grounds for fish, prawns and crabs, and support fisheries production in coastal waters; protect the environment by protecting coastal areas and communities from storm surges, waves, tidal currents and typhoons; produce organic biomass (carbon) and reduce organic pollution in nearshore areas by trapping or absorption.

Meanwhile, the DENR-7 has appealed to the public to conserve more and avoid polluting the water bodies.

DENR-7 regional executive director Isabelo Montejo likewise urged the public to help in protecting the country’s water bodies, as well as in planting trees which play an important role in sustaining the flow of our rivers and creeks.

Aside from pollution, among other reason Montejo has cited of the looming water shortage are over-extraction of groundwater, dwindling supply of surface water due to neglect of watersheds and over-exploitation of forest resources. 

Climate change is also a big threat to the world’s water resources, Montejo said in a statement adding that like air, water is essential to sustain life.

“Man can survive without food for 40 days but cannot survive without water for four days.  We need water like a car needs gas and oil to run.  All our cells and organs that make up our anatomy depend on water for proper functioning,” he said.   (FREEMAN)