MANILA -- Uniformed personnel from agencies such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been tapped to hunt illegal loggers.

Officials and staff of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Marine Industry Authority (Marina) are also part of the campaign, said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“We will clothe all our deputized Enros (Environment and Natural Resource Offices) not only with the authority to stop illegal logging, including the confiscation of forest products that may have been acquired illegally, but also to enforce all other environmental laws of the land,” Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said.

Paje said the move will strengthen the manpower capability of the DENR in the enforcement of laws, rules and regulations on environment and natural resources and in the implementation of the anti-illegal logging campaign.

In the case of PCG and Marina, the environment secretary said both agencies are vital in the protection and conservation of the country’s environment and natural resources, particularly those found in seas, coastal, marine and other areas within the Philippine waters.

In keeping with DENR’s deputation procedure, all the officials and employees of the named agencies shall undergo the required orientation and training on the various environmental laws and procedures to be conducted by the department.

However, each of the agencies may come up with their respective regulations to ensure the effectiveness of the deputation program.

The deputation was in line with Executive Order 23 signed by President Benigno Aquino III early last year that puts a stop to all logging activities in natural and residual forests. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)