The
military has pledged its support to the campaign to eliminate illegal logging
activities in Davao Region.
Lt.
General Ricardo Rainier Cruz, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command, issued
the statement after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
XI requested the assistance of the police and military in the full
implementation of the Executive Order No. 23 or the moratorium on the cutting
and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests and creating the
anti-illegal logging task force.
“Our
troops are not only peacekeepers but also guardians of nature and we will
ensure to support the DENR in apprehending those who destroy the forests and
face the full force of the law,” he said.
Security
forces and the DENR have identified 16 illegal logging hot spots in Davao
Region.
Joselin
Marcus Fragada, director of the DENR XI said the number of hot spots had been
reduced from 66 barangays as identified in 2012.
The
DENR tapped the assistance of the police and military to strengthen the
campaign against illegal logging activities in Davao Region in line with the
implementation of the Executive Order No. 23 issued by President Benigno Simeon
Aquino III on February 11, 2011.
The
target areas are believed to be dangerous due to the presence of armed groups.
“The
operations in these areas need careful planning because of the risk involved.
We cannot afford to lose people during the operations in the same way we cannot
allow illegal loggers to continue raping our forests,” Fragada said.
In
July 9, representatives from the DENR, the Philippine Army and the Philippine
Air Force conducted an aerial survey to determine the remaining forest cover
and the status of logs brought down by typhoon Pablo. Based on the latest
assessment made by the authorities, the hotspots comprise of six areas in Davao
Oriental, eight in Compostela
Valley
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=554806
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