MILF doubts Hataman’s new logging policy will protect forests

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—The new logging policy that the highest officer in charge of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) plans to implement would not guarantee the safety of forest areas from loggers, a senior Moro rebel official said Thursday.

Earlier, ARMM acting governor Mujiv Hataman said the regional government will be conducting an inventory of tree plantations in the ARMM to determine who would be given tree-cutting permits under the selective logging policy. The review could be completed next month, he added.

He said the issuance of permits on tree plantations in the ARMM was not banned under President Benigno Aquino’s order prohibiting logging in the country.

Hataman said that while cutting of trees in private plantation areas would be allowed, logging in the region’s forested areas would remain prohibited.

But Von Al Haq, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) spokesperson, said it was no guarantee that loggers would not intrude into natural forest areas.

“The best thing to do is to totally stop the cutting of trees, whether from the natural growth forests or not,” Al Haq said.

He said unless a total log ban was implemented, the Cagayan de Oro and Iligan disasters would occur again.

Last December, nearly 2,000 people died and billions in property and infrastructure were destroyed in the two cities when floodwaters spawned by Tropical Storm “Sendong” rushed down from elevated areas carrying a massive volume of logs, believed to be illegally cut.

“Do we want another Sendong to happen before we will do what is right?” Al Haq said.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police Director General Nicanor Bartolome said the police were determined to achieve the target of planting 10 million trees by next year to boost the country’s greening program.

Bartolome flew here for the turnover of command of the ARMM police to Chief Superintendent Mario Avenido, who replaced Chief Superintendent Bienvenido Latag. He said each policeman will be required to plant at least seven trees. With a report from Charlie Señase, Inquirer Mindanao