Forest guards seize hot logs on Mt. Magdiwata

A FOREST ranger of San Francisco Water District stands guard in front of a stump of a falcatta tree felled by illegal loggers. CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN / INQUIRER MINDANAO

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur—Forest guards seized illegally cut logs in the Mt. Magdiwata watershed here despite an intensified drive to protect the mountain from loggers.

A joint operation led by forest guards of San Francisco Water District (SFWD) intercepted 79 pieces of naturally grown falcatta logs inside the watershed area.  The logs are estimated at 6.8 cubic meters valued at P50,000.

Elmer Luzon, SFWD general manager, said the confiscated logs were felled near the Manag-as Creek that is about a few meters away from another water spring, another major source of potable water that would address the increasing demand of consumers in this progressive town.

“As long as there is encroachment inside the watershed, we spare no one even if those involved are influential persons,” Luzon said.

SFWD has been in the forefront of the continuous drive to protect the 1,700-hectare Mt. Magdiwata from incursion as the mountain, which is just a kilometer from the town poblacion, is the only source of potable water and serves as a natural shield from typhoons.

A report by the team composed of SFWD, police and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, said the logs were felled by residents of Alegria village who were caught trying to transport them using carabaos toward the loading area near the SFWD water reservoir.

“They cut it inside the protected mountain, a serious criminal offense considering that Magdiwata has been declared a permanent watershed through Presidential Proclamation No. 282,” Luzon said.

Luzon said the SFWD forest rangers had been closely monitoring all kinds of illegal logging and illegal mining activities that pose a grave threat to the endangered watershed.

“The recent crackdown only shows that we are not singling out people who already gained notoriety for having been caught several times trying to slip logs out of the  watershed,” he said.

He was referring to a certain Judito Pintado who is facing several criminal charges for his alleged involvement in illegal logging and illegal mining activities inside the watershed. Chris V. Panganiban, Inquirer Mindanao