ARMM Environment Secretary Kahal Kedtag (left) inspects premium logs seized from one of three illegal sawmills in Maguing, Lanao del Sur as MNLF integrees who supported the operation look on. (photo by McMorrie Bidara, InterAksyon.com)
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao seized some 28,730 board feet of premium logs, worth at least P1.4 million, and shut down three illegal sawmills in Lanao del Sur on Saturday.
The operation was led by ARMM Environment Secretary Kahal Kedtag after investigations confirmed widespread logging within the watershed in three barangays of Maguing town.
However, Kedtag clarified that only two of the sawmills could be said to engage in illegal logging. The third, he said, "we could not yet classify (as being engaged in) illegal logging because as we can see, they just appear to be clearing the area … converting the forest land into agricultural land.”
Nevertheless, he stressed, this remained “prohibited since this is a watershed area."
The logs were turned over to the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Group of Lanao del Sur.
The operation was supported by integrees who used to be with the Moro National Liberation Front.
http://interaksyon.com/article/135373/arrm-seizes-p1-4m-logs-shuts-down-illegal-sawmills-in-lanao-del-sur
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