Watershed not spared from logging

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur—Forest rangers from the local water utility and from the local environment protection office on Monday arrested nine illegal loggers in the act of cutting down falcatta trees inside the Mount Magdiwata watershed here.

Illegal logging has damaged what forest rangers described as “premium residual tree species” inside the watershed.

The team from San Francisco Water District (SFWD) and the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office also seized some 16 cubic meters of “export quality” falcatta trees valued at about P140,000.

But Elmer Luzon, SFWD general manager, said the volume of the falcatta trees found cut inside the watershed could easily bring the figure to nearly half a million pesos.

Luzon said illegal tree cutters have been emboldened to operate inside the watershed, which is known for its big trees, because they were given assurance by a certain Judito Pintado that he owned the area where the harvesting was taking place.

It was learned, Luzon said, that Pintado got P30,000 from the illegal loggers in exchange for the fallen falcatta trees.

“Pintado was the same guy we filed charges against for illegal logging and illegal mining about three years ago,” Luzon said.

The cases against Pintado, he said, are continuing.

Luzon said the area where the illegal-logging operation took place is the same area that SFWD has identified as another water source to be developed because it has a capacity of putting out water at 50 liters per second.

SFWD has been seeking a P135-million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines to develop the water source, he said.

The Mt. Magdiwata watershed covers some 1,700 hectares of still verdant forest land and is a protected area under Presidential Proclamation No. 282 issued in 2011.

The watershed, which is located just a kilometer from this town’s center, remains the only source of potable water for more than 5,000 households, commercial and even industrial users here.

Last week, Mayor Jenny de Asis ordered a tightened campaign against illegal logging and other environmentally destructive activities here. Chris Panganiban, Inquirer Mindanao