DENR 8 confiscates over P750,000 worth of hot lumber

As of August 2013, DENR’s Forest Management Service (DENR-FMS) has conducted a total of 29 apprehensions resulting to the confiscation of 25,058.4 board feet of hot lumber with estimated amount of P751,752. DENR Regional Executive Manolito Ragub said that confiscations had declined following the issuance of Executive Order No. 23 in February 2011 which provides for the Moratorium on the Cutting and Harvesting of Timber in Natural and Residual Forests and Creating the Anti-illegal Logging Task Force.

Ragub said that in 2012, DENR Region 8 conducted 133 apprehensions which resulted to the confiscation of 128,336.32 board feet lumber amounting to over P 3 million. Regional Technical Director Marciano Talavera of DENR-FMS said, “the number of apprehensions conducted by the authorities depends on the rampancy of illegal logging activities.” “We positively believe that the decrease of apprehensions means decrease of illegal logging activities, and this is attributed to an intensified anti-illegal logging campaign and the issuance of E.O. 23,” he added. DENR’s Forest Management Service also revealed the agency is closely monitoring 24 municipalities in Region 8 identified as illegal logging hotspots.

These include San Isidro, Victoria, Palanit, Gamay in Northern Samar; Borongan, Guiuan, Taft, Dolores in Eastern Samar; Basey, Marabut, Paranas, Catbalogan, Calbayog in Samar; Caibiran and Naval in Biliran; Tacloban, Dagami, Capoocan, Albuera, Baybay, Abuyog in Leyte; and Maasin, Silago, Hinunangan in Southern Leyte.

Penalties for illegal logging activities are contained in Presidential Decree 705 or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines, Talavera said.