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Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Editorial: Enough of lip service
NOW that a group has come out in the open with the identities of nine big logging firms in the country, the government should not hesitate to cancel their logging permits in order to stop the further denudation of our forests.
President Arroyo has been dared by the Multi-Sectoral Action Group (MSAG) to cancel the logging permits and we back them up in their challenge to the incumbent administration.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), being the lead environmental agency, should seriously consider the proposal to permanently ban logging in the Philippines and not wait for more deadly floods and landslides to hit a populated area in the country that would cause the destruction of millions of pesos' worth of properties and the loss of many lives.
The campaign against illegal logging however should also cover those who help illegal loggers like their protectors, both in and out of government.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye was quoted as saying that the government should balance the need to protect the environment and sustaining construction needs, especially the demand for wood. To hell with the need for wood in construction activities, there are surely alternatives that are available to builders and contractors.
We have had enough of lip service. The need for action is now.
(December 7, 2004 issue)
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