Guv backs log ban

DAVAO Del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario reiterated his all-out support to the new Provincial Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force, which was created in response to President Benigno Aquino III's Executive Order No. 23.

The new task force is mandated to ensure the implementation of EO 23, which mandates a logging moratorium on the national and residual forests towards protecting the remaining watersheds and woodlands in the country.

"I appreciate this initiative of the president. My all-out support is, therefore, with you in the discharge of your duties and responsibilities," del Rosario told members of the newly-formed anti-illegal logging unit.

OIC-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Marcia Isip led the signing of the memorandum creating the provincial task force contra hot logs.

Other signatories include Tagum City Cenro Antonio Inguillio, Panabo City Cenro Marvin Parilla, DILG provincial director Almario Cero, provincial police director Sr. Supt. Edgardo Wycoco and a certain Lt. Col. Solomon from the Philippine Army.

The DENR identified Davao del Norte as one of the hotspot areas for illegal logging operations in the Davao Region, together with the provinces of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

Isip said the primary concern of the task force is to look out and monitor the entry of illegally cut logs from the provinces of Compostela Valley and Agusan del Sur. It will also assist the DENR in the enforcement of other environmental laws in the province.

Del Rosario, who was a minister of the environment and natural resources during the Marcos regime, has always been a champion of environmental protection and rehabilitation in the province.

He identified ecological protection as integral component of the development agenda of his previous administrations.

In 2000, the governor created an inter-agency, multi-sectoral Provincial Task Force on Anti-Illegal Logging in order to save the remaining forestlands and watershed areas in the province.

In his present term as governor, del Rosario further assures the all-important centerpiece program on environment is very much ingrained in his new administration's development strategy P.E.O.P.L.E.

During his recent State of the Province Address (Sopa), the governor revealed Davao del Norte even got an excellent rating on environmental governance at the annual Local Governance Performance Management Systems (LGPMS) review.

This is due to the province’s exceptional performance in managing wells its forest, freshwater and coastal marine ecosystems.