Laguna cops use Google Earth to locate illegal logging sites

LAGUNA, Philippines  – Eight of 30 towns in this province have been cleared of illegal logging after police launched a new strategy using Google Earth.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police director, said illegal logging operations in the towns of Kalayaan, Pangil, Liliw, Cavinti, Luisiana, Nagcarlan, Mabitac, Paete, and Sta. Cruz, are now a thing of the past.

Cruz said Google Earth is an advance technique in tracking down the locations of illegal logging sites in the province.

Under the program, Cruz said white spots would appear on the map indicating the illegal logging activities in the area.   

He said the project aims to eliminate, if not totally stop, illegal logging in the province.

According to Cruz, police have confiscated more than 280,000 board feet of lumber worth P25 million, dismantled eight depots, and arrested 12 people in separate raids.

“The intensified ground operations resulted in the biggest confiscation of hot lumber since President Aquino gave an order to stop illegal logging nationwide,” Cruz said.

The raids were conducted by joint elements of the departments of Environment and Natural Resources and Interior and Local Government, the provincial government, and the Philippine Army.