Illegally-cut
logs seized
The
National Integrated Protected Area Program (NIPAP) at the Mt. Malindang
Range Natural Park, Misamis Occidental stopped illegal loggers dead
on their tracks when it consummated a bust on a cache of illegally-cut
logs last Thursday, 7 October 2004 in Bonifacio town.
Acting
on reports received, the Office of the Protected Area Superintendent
Rolando Dingal of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Misamis
Occidental, assisted by the 2nd Police Regional Mobile Unit of 10th
Police Regional Mobile Group headed by Police Senior Inspector John
Francis P. Encinareal, seized the said illegal logs at around seven
in the evening at Brgy. Dullan, Bonifacio town.
“This
achievement is in accordance to the strong drive against illegal logging
activities in the province of the Provincial Government and the DENR,”
an Environment and Natural Resources official said. The protection,
reforestation, and preservation of the remaining 53,262 hectares forest
cover of Mt. Malindang – where the seized logs were reportedly
cut – is foremost in the programs of the DENR office.
The
October 7 raid was pulled-off with the help of the concerned citizens
and officials of Brgy. Dullan – where the illegally-cut Tamuyan
Trees were found by the raiding team. Reports reaching this office placed
the approximate number of the logs at about 1,000 board feet, which
if sold, will cost P25.00 to P35.00 per board foot. The seized logs
are now stocked inside the DENR Compound, Capitol Area, Oroquieta City.
Supt.
Dingal has revealed in an interview that his office is investigating
the matter in order to identify and to confirm who really owns the said
logs and to file appropriate charges thereafter.
On
his part, Misamis Occidental Governor Loreto Leo Ocampos lauded the
group and all the concerned citizens who are instrumental in the success
of the confiscation. “This would give lesson to all who are doing
illegal logging activities that the provincial government is serious
in its fight against this activity,” Ocampos said.
This
development is one of the major accomplishments after Governor Ocampos
issued an Executive Order for the creation of the Misamis Occidental
Task Force on Anti-Illegal Logging last 9 September 2004. (W. Valles
Jr. – Prov’l. Info. Office/K. Aoanan – PIA 10, MisOcc.)
