Gov’t permits used for illegal logs

ZAMBOANGA CITY—At least three logging companies have been using timber licenses to illegally cut trees in Lanao del Sur, according to the highest ranking officer in charge of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Mujiv Hataman, acting ARMM governor, said these companies have been issued Integrated Forest Management Agreements (IFMAs) by officials of Lanao del Sur.

IFMA is a contract through which government allows private firms to develop and manage tree plantations. Firms with IFMAs are also allowed to harvest trees specified in their contracts which have life spans of 25 years.

But Hataman, who started an investigation into illegal logging activities in the region following the Dec. 17 tragedy that sent the people of the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan to their knees, said IFMAs were being used to illegally harvest trees in the towns of Tagoloan, Sapad and Nunungan.

He said he summoned three former ARMM environment secretaries—Faizal Randy Karon, Kabuntalan Emblawa and Usman Sarangani—to explain how IFMAs became instruments of massive forest destruction in the region.

“They must explain why they allowed several companies to operate and log in some towns using the IFMA,” Hataman said.

Several leaders of ARMM have issued orders banning logging in the five-province region that is one of the country’s poorest but most resource-rich.

When he assumed office two weeks ago, Hataman’s first act was to prohibit the issuance of new logging licenses and the cancellation of existing ones in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Sulu.

He gave the order following a directive from President Aquino.

Hataman said documents that his office retrieved from the start of the investigation showed that the three officials that he summoned “signed the request of these companies” to log in areas outside their assigned plantations.

Hataman refused to identify the companies.

He said in line with the investigation, he also ordered the removal of ranking provincial, municipal and city environment officials and appointed officers in charge in their places.

Hataman said by relieving ranking environment officials of their duties, he had removed a layer of barrier in efforts to uncover the extent of and unmask those behind illegal logging in the region.

“I don’t have the list right now but I have already issued the directive last Monday,” Hataman said.

He said the relieved officials were also being investigated for their possible role in illegal logging in the region.

“Rank-and-file employees and other individuals can help us by reporting questionable transactions and dealings committed by their superiors. I am just a phone call or a text message away,” he said. Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao