DENR 8 confiscates over P750,000 worth of hot lumber in 2013

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
September 10, 2013

TACLOBAN CITY – As of August 2013, DENR’s Forest Management Service (DENR-FMS) has conducted a total of twenty-nine (29) apprehensions resulting to the confiscation of 25,058.4 board feet of hot lumber with estimated amount of P751,752.00.

DENR Regional Executive Director Manolito Ragub said that the trend is declining following the issuance of Executive Order No. 23 in February 2011 which provides for the Moratorium on the Cutting and Harvesting of Timber in Natural and Residual Forests and Creating the Anti-illegal Logging Task Force.

Director Ragub said that in 2012, DENR Region 8 conducted one hundred thirty three (133) apprehensions which resulted to the confiscation of 128,336.32 board feet lumber which amounted to over P3 million.

Regional Technical Director Marciano Talavera of DENR-FMS said “the number of apprehensions conducted by the authorities depends on the rampancy of illegal logging activities.”

“We positively believe that the decrease of apprehensions means decrease of illegal logging activities, and this is attributed to an intensified anti-illegal logging campaign and the issuance of E.O. 23” he added.

DENR’s Forest Management Service also revealed that the agency is closely monitoring twenty-four (24) municipalities in Region 8 identified as illegal logging hotspots.

These include San Isidro, Victoria, Palanit, Gamay in Northern Samar; Borongan, Guiuan, Taft, Dolores in Eastern Samar; Basey, Marabut, Paranas, Catbalogan, Calbayog in Samar; Caibiran and Naval in Biliran; Tacloban, Dagami, Capoocan, Albuera, Baybay, Abuyog in Leyte; and Maasin, Silago, Hinunangan in Southern Leyte.