LEGAZPI CITY, August 10 – An
intensified forest protection and law enforcement campaign of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Bicol proved to be successful with 14,306
board feet (bd. ft.) of illegal lumbers and 28 sacks of wood charcoal
confiscated in a series of operations being conducted by field offices, Phil.
National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“Reports coming from the field
offices revealed that seven weeks worth of increased operations against illegal
logging/cutting by forestry and security personnel have led to this
accomplishment,” DENR V Regional Executive Director Gilbert Gonzales said.
Dir. Gonzales said from the
period of the later part of June to early August, five successive operations
were carried out in Sorsogon which resulted to the apprehension of 3,945 bd. ft. and 28 sacks of wood charcoal,
three apprehensions in Masbate with 5,229 bd. ft., two apprehensions in
Catanduanes 3,220 bd. ft., one apprehension in Camarines Norte with 1,910 bd.
ft., and one apprehension in Camarines Sur that accrued a confiscation of 28
sacks of charcoal.
“All confiscated lumbers and
sacks of charcoal are taken under DENR custody which will undergo further
criminal/administrative adjudication” he added.
Early on, RED Gonzales directed his
field officers to heighten forest protection and law enforcement campaign to
arrest alleged rampant illegal logging/cutting of trees in several areas of
Bicol Region. (LASoriano, DENR-RPAO/PIA Sorsogon)
Land Mapping. DENR
- Forest Management Service Regional Technical Director Antonio Abawag
converses with a NAMRIA (National Mapping and Resource Information Authority)
staff at the confab - Presentation of the Land Cover Mapping of Bicol Region today
(Aug. 7, 2012). NAMRIA will be releasing the land cover maps of the region that
are of significant use to local governments. NAMRIA, which surveys and maps the
land and water resources of the Philippines is a line agency of the DENR. (Photo by Jessel S. Basanta/PIA Sorsogon)