CENRO Sta. Rita holds community assemblies in Marabut and Basey, Samar

By PURIFICACION S. DALOOS
October 13, 2010

TACLOBAN CITY  –  In a bid to curb the perennial problem of timber poaching within its area of jurisdiction, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Sta. Rita, Samar has intensified its information campaign on the importance of forest conservation and protection.

Led by its CENR Officer Forester Pierre C. Gillo, a community assembly was recently held in Barangay Tinabanan, Marabut considered as one of the hotspots of timber poaching within Samar province.

The assembly brought together the barangay chairmen and other leaders of barangays Tinabanan, Legaspi and Tagalag all of Marabut, Samar which are considered by the Department as timber poaching hotspots. Also in attendance were representatives of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army as well as the municipal government of Marabut, Samar.

“The barangay assembly was conducted mainly to increase the awareness of the communities on biodiversity conservation and to empower them by providing updates on national laws relevant to protected area management and biodiversity conservation,” CENR Officer Pierre Gillo said. This is also consistent with the DENR direction “From the Ridges to the Reefs” being espoused by Regional Executive Director Primitivo C. Galinato, Jr. This recognizes the need for the protection of the forest areas as an important ecosystem. “Whatever happens to the forests will surely affect the lowland ecosystems,” Gillo added.

During the assembly, they were given information on the Salient Features of Forestry Laws particularly Presidential Decree 705 with its amendments, as well as the Chainsaw and Wildlife Acts which are being implemented by the DENR. Since the forestlands of Marabut are within the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) which is a declared Protected Area, the participants were also given information on the importance and significance of conserving the resources within that area.

While timber poaching has become a source of livelihood for some in Marabut, particularly in barangays Legaspi, Tinabanan and Tagalag, CENRO Gillo is optimistic that this can be minimized, if not totally eradicated. He encouraged them to avail of alternative programs being offered by government such as the Community Based Forrest Management Program. Through the CBFMP, organized communities are given a tenure instrument through the CBFM Agreement which gives them stewardship of a given area for twenty five (25) years, renewable for another term. Through this, the organization may go into agro forestry as an alternative to timber poaching, while conducting forest conservation and protection activities.

“I hope that you will share with your constituents whatever we have shared with you today. Our responsibility to protect the forest is for the common good,” CENRO Gillo told the participants in Marabut.  He further challenged them “to protect our forests now, or we may one day wake up without any more forests to show our children”.