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Monday, October 10, 2005
Davao Oriental revives logging permit
By Antonio M. Ajero
AFTER 19 years, the suspension of the license of Matuguina Integrated Wood Products Inc. (MIWPI) has finally been lifted.
Last June 5, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Michael Defensor directed DENR 11 Regional Executive Director Edilberto Buiser "to lift the suspension of MIWPI and allow it to operate its Timber License Agreement (TLA) 354, subject to a new Operations Plan, which shall be submitted through your office and the Undersecretary for Environment and Forestry (Undersecretary Ramon J.P. Paje) for the approval of the DENR secretary."
MIWPI's TLA was first suspended 19 years ago, specifically on July 15, 1986, by then Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), headed by former senator Ernesto Maceda, the first of nine environment secretaries since the lifting of Martial Law.
According to a letter of MIWPI President Juan Correlo, the TLA was suspended due to poor performance in reforestation activities.
The suspension stayed despite repeated attempts to have it lifted during the last 19 years.
On March 23, Correlo requested Defensor "to allow MIWPI to recommence its operations under TLA 354 and that the suspension thereof be permanently lifted subject to existing and applicable rules and regulations."
Despite attempts of the office of Davao Oriental Governor Ma. Elena Palma Gil to assist the logging company, municipal and barangay officials of Caraga and Baganga are opposing the logging of their remaining forests.
The officials noted this opposition especially if the remaining forests would be logged by a group that would only bring out the logs raw and not process the same in their area, so that residents would be benefited in terms of employment and circulation of money locally.
Meanwhile, the logging concession area being questioned by an opposition senator is located in Davao Oriental, not Davao del Norte as earlier reported.
Documents obtained by this paper indicated that the logging area is under the name of MIWPI.
The MIWPI area, covered by TLA 354, is reportedly located in the towns of Baganga and Caraga, Davao Oriental.
MIWPI is owned by Davao logger Henry Wee but later sold to loggers in Luzon, particularly the so-called Isabela group that is allegedly fronted by a certain Victor Ang.
However, documents of MIWPI are still reportedly in the name of Wee, who had been attempting to convert the suspended TLA into an Integrated Forest Management Agreement.
Meantime, Johnny Chua of Toplite Timber Company denied having anything to do with a forest concession in Mindanao as earlier reported in this paper.
Ricardo Castillo, Chua's representative, said Chua has nothing to do with Matuguina Timber or any other logging concession in Mindanao. He said he is a lumber dealer only in Luzon, particularly in the Manila area.
(October 10, 2005 issue)
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