Phil. Army, DENR conduct series of anti-logging operations

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 1): Phil. Army, DENR conduct series of anti-logging operations

The joint forces of the Philippine Army and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here have recently conducted a series of anti-logging operations that resulted in the confiscation of a huge haul of lumber flitches and charcoal reportedly taken from mountain reserves in Nueva Ecija and Zambales.

Brigadier General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr, commander of the Philippine Army 7th Infantry Division (7ID), said they are determined in their efforts in promoting environmental protection and preservation within the 7ID area of operations.”

“As deputized by the DENR as environmental protector, the 7th ID, in support to National Greening Program (NGP), a nationwide campaign of the government, would not hesitate to apprehend and file cases against the violators,” Catapang said.

The army official said that the joint PA-DENR team operations in Barangay San Lorenzo, Masinloc, Zambales recently led to the confiscation of illegally cut lumber flitches worth some P50,000. According to reports, the seized hot lumber were cut by illegal logging operators and abandoned them in the area.

The “hot” lumber flitches were floated down the San Lorenzo River to the town of Masinloc, and brought by army trucks to the office of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) for proper inventory and safekeeping.

Catapang also said that the 72nd Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC), along with the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) personnel based in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, has also confiscated 27 pieces of illegally cut lumber with an estimated volume of 522 board feet.

Likewise, he said the PA’s Task Force Sagip Likas-Yaman (TFSLY) confiscated about 98 sacks of charcoal with an estimated amount of P20,000 at Martin Village, Barangay Nazareth, Gen. Tinio, Nueva Ecija.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=493276