‘Hot’ logs seized from wood processing plant in Agusan del Sur town

BAYUGAN CITY , Agusan del Sur, Philippines — A government anti-illegal logging task force has uncovered the existence of a wood processing plant in neighboring Esperanza town in Agusan del Sur, which has long been used as a depository of “hot” logs transported and cut from nearby forested areas of the province.

This came about after the task force of combined operatives of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Caraga region seized on August 19 truckloads of ill-gotten lauan logs inside the compound of Esperanza Dacutan Wood Resources in Dacutan village.

The task force led by Ronald Gadot of PAOCC apprehended some 475 illegal logs mostly lauan species being delivered inside the wood processing plant, which were supposed to be milled with imported logs from Papua New Guinea for the production of veneer and plywood.

Gadot told reporters that the seized logs cut in eight meters and four meters with an average diameter of 30 centimeters were scaled at 81 cubic meters. He, however, refused to give the estimates of the commercial value of the logs, saying it would be the DENR officials who would do it.

He said the raid on the plant was done based on the text messages they received from concerned residents pointing at the compound as the source of illegal logs transported through “habal-habal (passenger motorcycle with wooden outrigger) and Elf tucks.

The logs were believed to be towed along Agusan River and was relayed by land transport at the log pond in Sta. Fe village in Esperanza town.

A source who asked not to be named revealed that the delivery of illegal logs cut from the forested areas of the towns of Esperanza and San Luis has been rampant since January this year. He added the use of “habal-habal” as transport was only seen in the last two months.

“The habal-bahal drivers would often brag to residents that they are untouchable because they are protected by some local officials,” the source said, hinting that these officials have been on the take on the proceeds of the sold logs even as he asked not to reveal their names.

Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Eleazar Alaira was not aware of the raid and learned about it after the task force members had raided the plant and apprehended the illegal logs.

In an interview, Alaira said the plant, which milled only imported lauan logs from Papua New Guinea and planted softwood products for veneering, lumber and plywood, were among the three legitimate sawmills in his area of responsibility covering this city, Esperanza and Sibagat towns.

Alaira, however, could not provide any document on the profile of the company which operates the wood processing plant.

According to the source, the plant is part of San Manuel Wood Products, Inc. based in Toril, Davao City, which produces high quality marine plywood.

The source posed this question: Why are imported logs being transported in Esperanza town when they have a big plant in Davao where it is also the port of entry of these forest products?

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