Drive nets P76.9-M ‘hot’ forest products

The anti-illegal logging campaign of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has netted P76.9 million worth of illegal forest products in just six months.

In a report to Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Michael Defensor, Task Force Sagip Kalikasan said it had confiscated from September last year to March a total of 13,970 cubic meters of illegally cut logs, lumber and flitches; 222 vehicles used in transporting them, and 75 tools used in illegal logging.

The task force said 1.73 million board feet or 4,080 cubic meters of "hot" logs and lumber worth P30.9 million were seized in 17 operations, mostly in Quezon and Agusan del Sur, between Sept. 14 and March 18.

The operations required the scouring of mountains in Quezon and Agusan del Sur, holding of 24-hour stakeouts at known off-loading points for smuggled illegally cut logs in the wharves of Cebu City, Mandaue City and Zamboanga City, and highway chases of trucks carrying illegal logs, the task force said.