DENR Bicol beefs up forest protection and law enforcement

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)

Task Force Meeting. DENR Bicol Regional Executive Director Gilbert Gonzales (2^nd from right) presides at the meeting of the Regional Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force (RAILTF). The RAILTF, which has the government security units and justice department as interim members is tasked with the enforcement of Executive Order 23 or the moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in natural and residual forests. The DENR – Forest Management Service has reported a significant decrease in illegal logging apprehensions in the first semester of 2012. (Photo by Jessel S. Basanta/ 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)