THIS 2005 photo shows confiscated logs floating on Agusan River in San Luis town, Agusan del Sur province. INQUIRER PHOTO
BAYUGAN CITY, Agusan del Sur—A government anti-illegal logging task force has uncovered a wood-processing plant in Esperanza town, Agusan del Sur province, that has long been used as depository of “hot” logs transported and cut from nearby forested areas in the province.
This came about after the task force, composed of members of the Presidential Anti-
Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Caraga region, seized on Aug. 19 truckloads of ill-gotten lauan logs inside the compound of Esperanza Dacutan Wood Resources in Barangay (village) Dacutan.
The task force led by Ronald Gadot of the PAOCC seized some 475 illegal logs, mostly lauan, delivered inside the wood-processing plant. The logs were supposed to be milled along with imported logs from Papua New Guinea for the production of veneer and plywood.
Gadot told reporters that the seized logs were cut to 8 meters and 4 meters, with an average diameter of 30 centimeters. He, however, refused to give an estimate of the commercial value of the logs, saying it is the DENR officials who are allowed to do it.
He said the raid on the plant was done based on the text messages they received from concerned residents pointing to the compound as the source of illegal logs transported through “habal-habal,” or passenger motorcycles with wooden outriggers, and Isuzu Elf tucks.
The logs are believed to have been been towed along Agusan River and was relayed by land transport at the log pond in Barangay Sta. Fe in Esperanza.
A source, who asked not to be named, revealed that the delivery of illegal logs cut from the forested areas of Esperanza and San Luis towns had been rampant since January this year. He added that the use of habal-habal as transport was seen only in the last two months.
“The habal-habal 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 from the proceeds of sold logs, even as he asked not to reveal their names.
Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Eleazar Alaira learned about the raid only when task force members raided the plant and seized the logs.
In an interview, Alaira said the plant, which mills only imported lauan from Papua New Guinea and planted softwood products for veneering, lumber and plywood, was among the three legitimate sawmills in his area of responsibility covering this city and Esperanza and Sibagat towns.
Alaira, however, could not provide any document on the profile of the company that operates the wood-processing plant.
But the source revealed that the plant is part of San Manuel Wood Products Inc., which is based in Toril district, Davao City, and produces high-quality marine plywood.
The source questioned why imported logs were being transported to Esperanza when San Manuel Wood Products has a big plant in Davao, which is also the port of entry of these forest products. Chris V. Panganiban, Inquirer Mindanao