ZAMBOANGA CITY—The military continues to seize logs from the mountains of the Lanao provinces which means tree-cutting is still unabated.
But the bright side of it was that the seized timber products could help solve the shortage of chairs in public schools, according to a military officer.
Col. Daniel Lucero, chief of the 103rd Infantry Brigade (IB), said at least 52,357 board feet of logs have been seized by the military in recent operations.
These, he said, could be used as materials for chairs and help fill the gap for chairs in public schools.
The logs have been seized since July last year and after the Dec. 17 disaster that struck Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro City. Lucero said the logs are enough to make 6,500 school chairs.
The volume of the seized logs, according to a former truck driver for a logging firm, was enough for four two-story houses.
Armando Cabance, who used to drive trucks carrying logs, said a single two-story house all made of wood would require at least 15,000 board feet.
Lucero said more logs may have been felled prior to his assignment in Lanao in January 2011.
He said the 52,357 board feet of logs were seized in recent operations not counting those that have been seized prior to his duty in Lanao. “In fact, our grandstand is almost full,” said Lucero. The space that the 103rd IB uses to store the logs “is full of logs,” he said.
Lucero, also the commander of Task Force Ranao, has been designated by acting Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman to head a task force against loggers.
Lucero told the Inquirer that the military has filed charges against Adawiya Banocag, a suspected logger of Lumbaca Ingud of Tamparan, Lanao del Sur, and another suspect, Raily Gunar of Barangay Kilala in Marawi City.
He said cases were also being prepared against 20 more individuals.
“Our troops have literally turned into forest rangers,” he added.
He said more and more local government officials have also come forward to help.
“Alongside the confiscation and charges, we also conduct education information among villagers especially in areas where logging operations are evident,” Lucero said. Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao