LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) region has requested the Department of Public Works and Highways and the builder of the Marikina-Infanta road project to help in the fight against illegal logging in Sierra Madre.

In an interview Tuesday, Nilo Tamoria, DENR-Calabarzon director, said his office has requested the DPWH and the project contractor, EC de Luna Construction, to close the road to all vehicles going to the construction area, except those carrying construction materials.

Tamoria also requested the road builder to help in the government effort to stop illegal logging on either side of the project site.

Last October 21, DENR operatives and policemen in Baras, Rizal stopped two dump trucks loaded with 16.53 cubic meters (7,007 board feet) of timber suspected to be illegally cut in Sierra Madre.

Tamoria said the forest products were owned by a certain “Alma” and were loaded to the vehicles in the vicinity of Daranak falls in Tanay, Rizal.

The dump trucks, according to Tamoria, had just delivered sand from Porac, Pampanga to the Marikina-Infanta road project and loaded the illegally cut lumber on their way out of the project site.

Six persons were criminally charged in court, including a certain Senior Police Officer 1 Ronnie Afacible assigned at the Tanay police station who was acting as escort to the timber smuggling attempt.

The Marikina-Infanta road project stretches from the Sumulong Highway in the provinces of Rizal and Laguna up to Infanta town in Quezon province, passing along the slopes of the Sierra Madre mountain range.

The DENR has been receiving reports that illegal loggers transport undocumented lumber in the guise of loading construction materials for the road project.

Tamoria said hot logs from Sierra Madre used to be smuggled out through Tanay but it was stopped with the help of the DENR, military, and multi-sectoral groups.