At ‘man-made forest’ Authorities investigate illegal cutting of trees

BILAR, BOHOL, Philippines — Police authorities and the local government have started investigation the reported rampant cutting of trees at the famous man-made forest in this town, one of favorite stopovers for tourists travelling to the famed Chocolate Hills.

Superintendent Joie Pacito Yape Jr, community relations chief and public information officer of the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BOPPO), has told The Freeman they will seek explanation from the DENR regarding the alleged illegal cutting of robust trees lining up along a national highway in this town, a spot more commonly known as the “man-made forest of Bohol,” one of the major tourism jewels here.

Admitting that police have just recently received reports from concerned citizens who were alarmed over the sight of trees being felled by unidentified individuals—one of whom was reportedly a furniture maker from the neighboring town of Loboc—Yape said the BOPPO will help arrest suspects tagged as behind the hit-and-run massacre of trees in Bilar.

Mayor Norman Palacio, in a phone interview with The Freeman the other day, said  he would also clarify with the Bohol-DENR whether it had identified those who had cut trees at the “man-made forest” area.

Provincial DENR officer Nestor Canda could not be reached for comments yet, as his mobile phone number has been unreachable since the issue hit the local papers’ headlines here the other day.

Palacio said he has been aware of the tree-cutting activity, which was allegedly allowed by the DENR through a Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) resolution issued to the Barangay Council of Candabong in Loboc town.

“What I know is that there are trees at the man-made forest which have been found hazardous to the public,” said Palacio. “The DENR has granted an authority to a barangay in Loboc to undertake the trees which are rotting.”

The mayor however could not confirm if there were enterprising individuals who have taken advantage of the PAMB resolution for personal profit, adding that it was unclear if the DENR has been monitoring the area.

According to a source who leaked a picture of the rampant tree-cutting, which had caught the attention of Boholanos in social media sites, the logging was conducted indiscriminately, leaving no assurances whether the trees being cut had been identified and approved by the DENR.

“Create a group or task force for a hands-on monitoring of the vicinity of this tourist spot,” reacted Fatima Mapesos, a Boholana who has seen in online photos the toppling of trees in Bilar. “Make the locals take part of this task force so they will take responsibility as well.”

Palacio said his town is fielding police officers at the man-made forest area from 8 a.m. to 5 a.m. every day to protect the place from illegal loggers. “I may not know what happens next once the police have left,” he said.

He also clarified that a part of the man-made forest belongs to the jurisdiction of Loboc town, but it was not known yet if Loboc Mayor Helen Calipusan-Alaba was aware of the reported illegal logging.

The man-made forest is considered part of the 10,000-hectare Rajah Sikatuna National Park, declared as protected area under the protected landscape category by then President Joseph Estrada on April 23, 2000, covering the towns of Carmen, Sierra Bullones, Garcia Hernandez, Valencia, Dimiao, Bilar and Batuan.  (FREEMAN)