|
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Oledan: Political will
By Radzini Oledan
Slice Of Life
'In the case of illegal logging, there is no evidence that such political will has been exercised.'
THE blame for illegal logging activities in this country, past and present, must be laid at the door of government--whether national or local. No ifs or buts.
When a local government unit and its officials are unable to stop the wanton abuse of our forests; when despite a law banning the conduct of logging activities in their community, logging still persists; and when local authorities play deaf and mute to such illegal activities, something is terribly wrong.
It is not enough for President Arroyo to issue a statement placing illegal logging in the order of "most serious crimes against our people." There must be a mechanism that will cushion the impact of similar disasters in the future. Political will must be exercised by regulatory bodies and their agents to run after the culprits in the recent disaster which left hundreds of people dead due to killer floods and landslides.
Aside from the usual empty rhetoric we hear from our national leaders, little if any, is being done to genuinely protect the environment. There is no doubt that illegal logging is pervasive and causing enormous damage to lives, the environment and the economy.
Still it remains a very profitable business for those who do not care what happens to this country and its people for as long as they (illegal loggers) continue to rake in enormous profits. The value of illegally cut logs in the Philippines is estimated to be one-tenth of the total global timber trade worth more than $150B a year. In our country, illegal logging puts US$700 million a year into the pockets of smugglers who ship out logs aboard vessels flying Korean and Japanese flags.
Although logging was supposedly banned by the government following destructive floods in the late 80's and early 90's, its practice still continues, thanks to the connivance of corrupt government officials.
I remember the frustration of my classmate employed with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). He shared with our group in a doctorate class the difficulties of working with an organization mandated to protect vital natural resources.
"Money changes hands. There are even instances in our area when politicians would interfere and ask that the cases against loggers be dropped," he added.
What is the nature of illegal logging? It happens when timber is harvested, transported, bought or sold in violation of national laws. Like poaching into prohibited areas, felling of endangered and protected species or the extraction of timber in excess of agreed limits.
This is an indictment of government. With zero enforcement of laws crafted for the protection of the environment, the buck must stop at the door of Malacañang which has the responsibility of protecting national interest through political will. In the case of illegal logging, there is no evidence that such political will has been exercised.
Email Radzini Oledan at diwatangyen@yahoo.com
(December 9, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
