Quezon City, Philippines – The Department of the Interior Local Government (DILG) shall be partnering with Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to combat illegal logging and quarrying.
This came after the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte during the wake of the massive flooding that occurred in Cagayan Valley and Isabela.
On Tuesday, DILG announced that the department shall be meeting the DENR and the National Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force for the implementation of new strategies to protect remaining forest covers and the threatened habitats across the country. It shall be composed of the DILG, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Said task-force was created through Executive No. 23 in 2011 declaring a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests.
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya informed about the agreement between DILG Secretary Eduardo Año and DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu in mobilizing all concerned to prevent forest destruction. DILG also assured its support to the National Greening Program (NGP) in its aim to rehabilitate an approximately 1.2 million hectares of denuded lands by year 2020.
“Nangangako ang DILG na pakikilusin ang mga LGU, ang kapulisan, ang BFP at BJMP upang makamit ang layunin ng NGP na bigyan ng bagong buhay ang mga hindi mabunga, nakalbo at naabusong kagubatan ng bansa sa pamamagitan ng pakikiisa ng mga pamayanan sa reforestation program ng DENR. Makikipagtulungan din kami sa mga civil society organizations sa pagtatanim ng mga seedlings upang tumubo uli ang ating mga gubat.
“Alam kong may pandemya pa, pero ang programang ito ay hindi na makakapaghintay. Kung hindi tayo kikilos ngayon, ang itatanim natin ay mga buto ng paggunaw ng ating mundo. Ang climate change ay nagaganap na at kailangan natin itong harapin,” he said.
He also informed that from January to October 2020, the PNP recorded 6,710 anti-illegal logging operations which led to the arrest of 3,336 illegal loggers in the entire country with 3,663,173 board feet of lumber recovered illegally cut from remaining forest covers.
He said there are already 1,145 cases filed against suspects and “marami pa ring lumalabag sa ating mga batas sa kalikasan.”
“Sa ilalim ng PD 705, maaari din umanong dakpin ng PNP ang sinumang maaaktuhang illegal logger. Naatasan din ang PNP na magdagdag ng mga checkpoint sa mga gubat sa tulong ng mga PENRO at CENRO ng DENR,” DILG warned.
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