LUCENA CITY—Intensified campaign against illegal coconut lumber operators in Quezon uncovered abandoned boards of coco lumber products in successful police operations.
Senior Supt. Rhoderick Armamento, Quezon police provincial director, said on Monday police operatives in Sampaloc town seized 56 pieces of illegal coconut lumber with an aggregate volume of 1.31 cubic meters (556 board feet) worth P5,500 in Barangay (village) Mamala.
On Saturday, policemen in Tayabas City also found several pieces of abandoned coconut lumber with an estimated volume of 3.03 cubic meters (1,286 board feet) worth P23,000.
In Lucban town, policemen also recovered several pieces of freshly cut coconut lumber with an estimated volume of 0.82 cubic meters (348 board feet) in Barangay Tiawe.
“Aside from our continuous campaign, concerned citizens have also been feeding us with valuable information on the activities of illegal coco lumber operators,” Armamento said.
On January 3, the Philippine Coconut Authority implemented the nationwide suspension of the cutting of coconut trees except in Basilan province and Isabela City, where an infestation of coconut scale insect or “cocolisap” had been reported. The ban will last until the end of March while the agency reviews the implementing rules of Republic Act 10593, which amends RA 8048 (The Coconut Preservation Act
of 1995). RAM
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