Sunday, September 23, 2007 Exec: Illegal logs sourced from DavOr, sold in Comval By Ben O. Tesiorna
ILLEGALLY-cut logs in the Davao Region are usually sourced from Davao Oriental and sold in Compostela Valley.
This was the revelation made by a public official who requested anonymity saying that some of his/her supporters are even involved in the illegal activity.
The official said most of the logs that are being sold to sawmills in Compostela Valley came from Aliwagwag in Cateel, Davao Oriental.
The official said he/she could not understand as to why police authorities in both provinces failed to prevent the rampant transport of illegal logs from Cateel to Compostela Valley .
Protectors
Compostela Valley Police Director Ronald dela Rosa said though that one of the reasons for the rampant transport of illegal logs in the two provinces is because the New People's Army protects the "transporters" who in turn are giving protection money to the NPA.
Dela Rosa said when the environment and natural resources officers seize the illegal logs, the "transporters" are carrying, the latter simply report the incident to the NPA who in turn will warn the environment officers not to meddle with the transport of the hot logs.
No easy task
He admitted that their campaign against illegal logging in their province is no easy task.
Dela Rosa vowed though to at least give these illegal loggers a “headache” while he is still the provincial police director.
"May nahuli na akong apat na trucks na puno ng hot logs. Cases had been filed. Hirap din kami makahuli pa ulit. Kami lang binabantayan ditto. Text lang ang aming katapat. But I'll give them enough headache," dela Rosa said.
Last September 18, four trucks loaded with illegally cut logs from Cateel were confiscated by police authorities in Compostela Valley.
Police Chief Inspector Cydric Earl Tamayo of the 1102nd Provincial Mobile Group said the four trucks carried a total of 310 assorted round logs and flitches were apprehended at Sitio Mambusao, Barangay Ngan in Compostela town.
The trucks and logs reportedly don’t have any legal documents. The trucks do not also have certificates of registration and the drivers don’t have driver’s licenses.
Two of the three trucks carried assorted species of lawaan flitches reaching to about ten thousand boardfeet. The two trucks were reportedly owned by one Nonoy Celmar from Compostela.
The third truck meanwhile carried lawaan flitches of about 5,000 boardfeet and is allegedly owned by Aliwagwag barangay chairman Corsino Masumbid.
The fourth truck was also loaded with lawaan flitches and is reportedly owned by the Ngan-Panansalan-Pagsabangan Forest Resource Development Cooperative.
Environment TF
Compostela Valley Governor Arturo "Chiongkee" Uy meanwhile said they will soon be creating an environmental task force that will monitor sawmill operations in their province.
He said they will also be identifying sawmills that are buying hot logs and will take appropriate measures against them.
Uy said he will also coordinate with Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon to see what they can do to stop illegal logging and transport of illegal logs in their provinces.
The official said that aside from wanton cutting of trees, illegal loggers are also destroying the picturesque Aliwagwag falls since the logs are said to be dumped at the said falls before they are transported to Compostela Valley.
