DENR forms special teams to fight illegal logging in Western Visayas

MANILA, Philippines—The government has created teams of environment and interior department officers, backed by police and military forces to boost the campaign against illegal logging in Western Visayas, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said on Saturday.

DENR Regional Executive Director for Western Visayas Adeluisa G. Siapno announced the agency’s partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Army in a news release issued by her office Saturday.

The official said the newly created provincial anti-illegal logging teams would boost the campaign being waged by the existing anti-illegal logging task force in Region 6.

“The creation of provincial anti-illegal logging task forces in all provinces comprising Region 6 is not only a big boost to our regional anti-illegal logging efforts, but it is also a strategic move on the part of the department and our partner agencies to further protect the remaining forest resources of Western Visayas,” Siapno said.

A memorandum of agreement was recently signed by the provincial environment and natural resources officers  of Region 6 with provincial officials of the DILG, PNP and the 82nd Battalion of the Philippine Army.

Section 3 of Executive Order No. 23 provides for the creation of the anti-illegal logging task force to enforce the moratorium against the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests.

Siapno also appealed to the people of Western Visayas to continue to be vigilant in protecting the region’s forest resources, particularly against forest fires.

She made the appeal following reports of a forest fire occurring in the municipality of Don Salvador Benedicto in Negros Occidental province,

which damaged some two hectares of new plantations established under the National Greening Program.

“While we are already experiencing some rains, the summer season, as the weather bureau has said, is not yet over,” she said.

She urged local farmers to refrain from burning their agricultural wastes when preparing their farms, which could set off grass fires if not properly attended to. Open burning is also strictly prohibited under the Clean Air Act, she added.