TACLOBAN CITY- The regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-8) has reported that more than 32,000 board feet of illegally cut lumber were confiscated by their office for the past six months of this year. Leonardo Sibbaluca, executive director of the DENR-8, said that the confiscation of the illegally cut lumber and round timber was a result of their “intensified” campaign against illegal cutting in some parts of the region. From January up to May of this year, DENR personnel have confiscated 32,426 board feet of lumber and round timber with total commercial value of more than P3.5 million.
Sibbaluca said that cases for violation of Presidential Decree 705, otherwise known as the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines, was filed against four suspects which he did not identified. He also said four cargo trucks and four chain saws used in the illegal cutting of the forest products were also seized. Sibbaluca said that as part of their intensified campaign on illegal logging, checkpoints were put up in strategic areas in the region in coordination with the police, Army and other law enforcement agencies.
“We are maintaining and operating these checkpoints to deter those people who are into the illegal cutting of forest products,” he said. He added: “Most of the confiscations made by our men in the field were made possible with the cooperation and information by the people in the communities.” (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)
