DAVAO CITY, July 5 – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-XI) recently led the padlocking and dismantling of ten illegally operating mini-sawmills in the municipalities of Kapalong and San Isidro, Davao del Norte.
DENR-XI through the Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENRO) jointly conducted the operations with the Philippine Army (PA), Philippine National Police (PNP) in coordination with the local government of Davao del Norte.
The dismantled mini-sawmills are owned and operated by the following: Alejandro Sab, Benny Pedroso, Lino Elisan, Jerry Camacho, Danilo Arat, Amador Reyes, Armando Requinto, Victoria Hermano, Jenethon Veloso and Igangon Multi-Purpose Cooperative.
In a report submitted by CENR officer Jose Erwin G. Clemeña, Jr., it was revealed that aside from the dismantling of the mini-sawmills, one chainsaw was confiscated in violation of Republic Act No. 9175 otherwise known as the Chainsaw Act of 2002.
Further, a total of 284 pieces of lumber valued at PhP 98,687.36 and 17 pieces of mixed dipterocarp logs valued at PhP 12,550.00 were also confiscated during the operation in violation of Section 77 of Presidential Decree 705 otherwise known as the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines and Executive Order No. 23.
Clemeña also said that the operation was an offshoot of the intelligence reports and a directive from DENR-XI Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus E. Fragada to conduct an on-the-spot inspection and strictly implement the law without fear or favor.
Kapalong Mayor Edgar Timbol joined the team during the operation, together with Batallion Commander Col. Loise Binsaw of the 60th Infantry Battalion, P/Inspector Carl Omar Fiel of PNP Kapalong, For. Basilio Caralos of the DENR-XI Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force and some personnel of CENRO Tagum.
Executive Order No. 23 is an order declaring the moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests and creating the anti-illegal logging task force issued by President Benigno S. Aquino III on February 1, 2011.
Meanwhile, the Chainsaw Act of 2002 declares that “the State shall pursue an aggressive forest protection program geared towards eliminating illegal logging and other forms of forest destruction which are being facilitated with the use of chainsaws. The State shall regulate the ownership, possession, sale, transfer, importation and/or use of chainsaws to prevent them from being used in illegal logging or unauthorized clearing of forests”. (DENR-XI/Bing Cordova)
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