Navy personnel intercept narra flitches onboard a pump boat during an interdiction operation against illegal logging in Quezon. (NAVFOR-SOLCOM)
THE Naval Forces-Southern Luzon Command (Navfor-Solcom) has deployed a fleet of fast-craft to regularly patrol rivers, tributaries and sea lanes used by illegal loggers as alternative way to transport logs from the mountains of Quezon and other parts of the region.
“The command deployed Diesel Fast-Craft such as the DF 321 on the waters of Infanta, Quezon, to conduct deterrent patrols, naval blockade and show of force to curb illegal activities in the area including illegal logging operations,” Ens. Ere Mon John Duruin, assistant director of the Navfor-Solcom Public Affairs Office, said.
Duruin said in the past months, the Navy together with its civilian counterparts had conducted successful joint operations that yielded millions of pesos worth of flitches and timber in Quezon.
One of the confiscations occurred on June 1 in Barangay Anawan, Bordeos town, where 706 board feet of narra flitches with a market value of P105,900 were seized during interdiction operations.
Duruin said several suspects were arrested during the operation.
Lt.( JG) Merald Nodado, officer in charge of the Naval Detachment-Infanta, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has deputized the unit as a local force to prevent illegal logging, confiscate illegally cut forest products and arrest persons involved in illegal logging.
“We are mandated to safeguard the safety and security of our constituents and support all national programs including environmental protection,” Nodado said.
The deputization of Navfor-Solcom as forest rangers and protectors was confirmed by the command’s head, Commo. Manuel Natalio Abinuman.
“In behalf of the officers and men of the command, I would like to extend my commendation and congratulations to our personnel for their endless dedication to duty and their active support to environmental protection advocacies in line with Executive Order [EO] 23. With this, I urge everyone to actively continue with your duties and commitment to safeguard the safety and security of our natural environment,” Abinuman said.
President Aquino issued EO 23 in February 2011. It declared a total log ban in the country.
Recently, all Army units in the Visayas and Mindanao were deputized by the DENR to implement E0 23.
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