By Gemi Formaran June 15, 2020 PENRO Alfredo Palencia (3rd from left) leads the simultaneous anti-illegal logging operation. (Photo by Gemi ...
June 15, 2020
PENRO Alfredo Palencia (3rd from left) leads the simultaneous anti-illegal logging operation. (Photo by Gemi Formaran)
LUCENA CITY - Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) personnel apprehended some 1,756 board feet of illegally sawn flitches during a simultaneous anti- illegal logging operation on Wednesday, the environment agency's anniversary.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Alfredo Palencia who led the first team initially reported to DENR Regional Executive Director Gilbert Gonzales the apprehension of the forest products hidden along riverbanks in two separate sitios of Brgy. Cagsiay 2 in the coastal town of Mauban, a known transhippment point of illegally transported logs and flitches coming from Region 1 via motor boats.
Palencia's team was joined by CENRO-Tayabas under Forester Ramil Limpiada and assisted by officers of Regional Multisectoral Forest Protection Committee led by its incoming chairman, PG- ENRO Manuel Beloso.
But Palencia clarified that the apprehended forest products are dulitan, pilaway ayumit and duguan, all classified as soft wood species and believed to have been cut in a plantation.
He said nobody claimed ownership of the flitches.
"We are not yet sure if the owner of those forest products has permits, so we are giving him 20 days starting today (june 10) to appear at our office and bring necessary documents", said Palencia who was recently appointed Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services and will be repalced by Limpiada next week.
The seized flitches were hauled and deposited at DENR- Calumpang Forest Products Monitoring Station in Tayabas City for safe keeping pending the conduct of administrative confiscation proceedings.
Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is making it possible for local government units (LGUs) to undertake dredging and river restoration projects without spending taxpayers’ money.
This developed as DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu recently issued an administrative order rationalizing dredging activities in heavily silted river channels across the country in a bid to restore their natural state and flow, and reduce flooding.
DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2020-07 provides that private contractors shall cover all expenses of dredging operations in river dredging zones (RDZ) to be identified by a provincial inter-agency committee created under the directive.
“No funding from the government shall be made for the conduct of dredging activities by the private sector,” Cimatu said in the order.
“Holders of dredging clearance shall provide the financing, technology, management and personnel necessary to implement dredging activities within the exclusive RDZ,” he added.
Under the DAO, only duly registered companies with technical and financial capabilities to undertake large-scale flood control dredging and desilting operations may apply for a dredging clearance with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The private contractor will have to shoulder all the expenses of the dredging operation in exchange for whatever minerals it may recover, provided it pays the required national and local taxes.
Prior to engaging private contractors, LGUs that are interested in undertaking river restoration through dredging activities within their jurisdiction must submit a letter of intent to the Office of the DENR Secretary.
The administrative order creates a provincial inter-agency committee composed of the governor as chair, DENR regional executive director as vice-chair, and regional directors of DPWH, Mines and Geosciences Bureau and Environmental Management Bureau as members.
By removing the accumulated debris, dredging can restore the waterway to its original depth and condition, thus preventing floods. It also removes dead vegetation, pollutants, and trash that have gathered in these areas.
Cimatu’s latest order is pursuant to the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2019, issued by the DENR, DPWH, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Department of Transportation.
The joint circular seeks to protect and restore to their natural state and water flow the heavily silted river channels in the country.
Last year, Cimatu issued four DAOs in relation to the restoration of silted rivers through dredging, based on the separate requests of the provincial governments of Zambales, Oriental Mindoro, and Negros Occidental.
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