Quezon City, Philippines – Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday, November 23, 2020 commands the different Local Government Units (LGUs) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the country to help crack down illegal logging as well as expedite the planting of trees in coordination with the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“We must act quickly and in a whole-of-society fashion to protect our remaining forests across the country otherwise we are creating and causing more disasters for our country,” Año said stating that that LGUs and the PNP should prioritize the protection of the environment especially for disaster-prone and stricken nation such as the Philippines.
The announcement was made during the aftermath of the widespread flooding caused by Typhoon Ulysses.
“The flooding brought by Typhoon Ulysses is a harsh reminder that we are failing at doing our level best to protect the environment, especially our remaining forest cover. Kayat inaatasan ko ang lahat ng PNP units at LGUs na pigilan ang illegal logging at illegal quarrying sa kanilang mga nasasakupan,” Año said expressing that the flooding that occurred in parts of Cagayan Valley, Bikol, Marikina and Rizal and other areas in the country should be a wake-up call.
Año, in a press release, called for the protection of remaining forest covers, preservation of rich biodiversity and allowing forests to regenerate and grow again.
He urged the reactivation of all local Anti-Illegal Task Forces that was created in 2011 under Executive Order 23 to implement an anti-illegal logging campaign and implement environmental laws and programs within each locality.
The task force is composed of the DENR, DILG, Department of National Defense (DND), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), PNP and the different LGUs.
Año likewise reminded of DENR Memorandum Circular 2011 with the main subject: Incorporating Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) concerns in the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System.
This memo circular stated that all municipal/city mayors with their respective barangay captains are to conduct upland monitoring “to ensure that no illegal logging, kaingin and other forms of forest destruction take place within their jurisdictions.”
The memo also directed the LCEs to report to their Regional Task Forces (RTFs), “through the Provincial Governor and/or the DILG Regional Director,” incidents of forests destruction especially slash and burn farming (kaingin) and illegal logging activities.
Violations and legal basis
Año directed the PNP to set up checkpoints and arrest illegal loggers violating especially the Section 79 of Revised Forestry Code.
Under the said section, any person who “causes any damage to the timber stand and other products and forest growth found therein” shall be punished, while Section 89 of the same Code states that “Philippine National Police shall arrest even without warrant any person who has committed or is committing in his presence any of the offenses defined in this Chapter.”
Illegal loggers will be criminally charged for violating the Forestry Code of the Philippines (P.D. 705) and the Republic Act No. 9175 or the Chainsaw Act of 2002, among others.
“It is imperative that we must stop the wanton destruction of our remaining forest resources not only for our sake but also for future generations who will suffer the consequences of our inaction,” he said.
He also urged all LGUs to deploy more forest guards and the DENR to deploy more foresters to monitor our forests and engage local communities and Civil Society Organizations in reforestation programs particularly the National Greening Program.
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