BAGUIO CITY, Philippines -- The local governments in the Cordillera, Ilocos, and Cagayan Valley regions will establish joint checkpoints to curb illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming in 22 upland watersheds in Northern Luzon, an environment department official said.

Officials of the three regions agreed to join forces based on a memorandum of understanding that was finalized last week, said Primitivo Galinato Jr., Cordillera director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The regions agreed to share forest guards who would coordinate with the police in identifying routes used to transport illegally cut lumber, he said.

These checkpoints will be set up on roads linking Cagayan Valley to the Cordillera provinces of Kalinga and Ifugao.

Forest guards in the three regions are also empowered to track down and stop upland dwellers who burn sections of protected forests to widen their farmlands.