Outgoing DENR-7 head orders closure of 138 wood plants
The outgoing head of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources – 7 has ordered the closure of at least 138 wood processing plants and lumber dealers in Central Visayas.
DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo Dichoso ordered the closure of these forest product-based businesses last June 6 after they failed to comply with required permits of the government agency.
In surprise visit last Monday, DENR Sec. Ramon Pajo announced the transfer of Dichoso to Region 3 in Pampanga.
Dichoso will be replaced by the current DENR-7 Regional Technical Director for Forestry Dr. Isabelo Montejo today.
Paje in his visit lauded Central Visayas as the model region for environment and natural resources protection and conservation.
“Let me make this region the representative of the entire country,” he added.
Central Visayas is a major market and trans-shipment point of illegal forest products from Mindanao, mostly from Caraga region and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The DENR-7 issued Notice of Violation (NOV) to 307 wood processing plants and lumber dealers in the region and gave them until March 2012 to comply with all requirements to engage in processing and trading of forest products.
Only 169 of the 307 firms complied with the DENR order.
Bohol obtained that highest compliance rate of 66 percent as 33 out of 50 firms issued with NOV complied.
Negros Oriental ranked second with 42 out of 63 or 59 percent compliance rate.
Cebu province has a complaince rate of 51 percent or 88 out of 174 firms heeded DENR’s notice.
In Cebu City, 40 out of 60 firms or 39 percent complied with the notice.
Siquijor is at the bottom of the list with only six out of 20 or 30 percent compliance rate.
Based on the 2012 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), the Philippines falls under the global “strong performer” category, Paje said.
This he added underscores the need for strong environmental governance.
The Philippines, Paje said, performed well because of the logging ban, the National Greening Program and agricultural subsidies for lowland and upland farmers, and for reducing outdoor air pollution. /Jessa J. Agua, Correspondent
