DENR-7 sues brgy chief for cutting tree without permit

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 has filed a complaint against Barangay Chairman Juan Palma of Brgy. Amboan in Catigbian, Bohol for allegedly “cutting, gathering and collecting timber without license or permit from the said office,” said a press release dated last Nov. 20.

DENR filed on Nov. 6, 2012 the complaint at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, Bohol and docketed as number VII-02-INV-12K-03105. It is based on a joint affidavit and investigation report by three forest rangers of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO)-Tagbilaran City led by Eusalem Quiwag.

“The campaign on the strict enforcement of forestry laws has been a continuing effort to put off certain persons to commit or degrade the environment,” said DENR- 7 regional executive director Isabelo Montejo in the press statement.

The complaint against Palam was about his alleged violation of Section 68, Presidential Decree 705 as amended by Executive Order number 277 renumbered to Section 77 of Republic Act 7161.

Quiwag, in his letter of complaint, said 57 pieces of various sizes and dimensions of molave (Vitex parviflora) species, totaling 0.474 cubic meters, were found at the house owned by the accused. These were confiscated and were placed at the CENRO Tagbilaran City for safekeeping and custody.

“We need the sustained vigilance and strong participation of the local chief executives, the police, the military and other law enforcement authorities to carry out the mandate of implementing Executive Order 23,” Montejo added.

EO 23, which was signed by President Aquino in February 2011, has also put on hold all authorized logging operations in natural forests nationwide, virtually stopping timber extraction of about 300 million board feet a year.

The president also issued a proclamation on 26 February last year, establishing the National Greening Program, which seeks “to plant some 1.5 billion trees covering about 1.5 million hectares in six years, from 2011 to 2016.”

So far, the DENR has planted 142.6 million seedlings on more than 232,000 hectares all over the country. The program also generated over 364,000 jobs. (FREEMAN)