Soldiers seize P1.7-M illegally-cut logs

SOLDIERS belonging to the Alpha Company of the 26th Infantry Battalion along with police personnel in Bayugan City confiscated illegally-cut logs in an old warehouse at Purok 19, Curbada, Poblacion, Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur Thursday afternoon.

At least 70,000 board feet of assorted logs composed of mix dipterocarp (lauan), bagtikan, tangile, mayapis, and almon with an estimated value of P1.7 million were confiscated during the raid.

The raiding team has reported and turned over the confiscated logs to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) of Bayugan City under Cenro Officer-In-Charge, Eleazar S. Alaira.

"We are helping the Cenro and the Province of Agusan del Sur in their campaign against illegal logging, especially this time that the province are experiencing natural calamities due to their denuded forest,” said Lieutenant Colonel Jose Leonard B. Gille, commanding officer of the Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion.

Major General Victor A. Felix, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, said illegal logging has negative effect in the economic and ecological systems of optimal forest management.

Felix said this robs forest owners and local communities of significant revenues and benefits, damages forest ecosystems, distorts timber markets and forest resource assessments and acts as a disincentive to sustainable forest management.

“Aside from these facts, it has been our commitment to protect our environment. We are also compelled to help in the campaign by virtue of Executive Order 23 declaring a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in natural and secondary forests nationwide. This EO also provided the creation of anti-illegal logging task force wherein the Armed Forces is a member,” he added.