PERSONNEL of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) in Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte have seized close to P100,000 worth of illegally cut lumber, an official said Friday, May 6.

George Laolao, Cenro-Manukan head, said the illegally cut forest product consisting of 329 pieces of Taluto lumber were found abandoned by his team along the riverbank on Thursday, May 5, in Piñamar village, President Manuel A. Roxas town, Zamboanga del Norte.

Laolao the seized 329 pieces of Taluto lumber have an equivalent volume of 2,371 board feet or 5.59 cubic meters valued at P94,840.

He said the undocumented forest products were found abandoned by his team along the riverbank of Piñamar during the conduct of surveillance and patroll in the hinterland areas of Roxas town.

He said the lumber were immediately hauled to the Cenro-Manukan compound for safekeeping and further appropriate actions as no one claimed to own the lumber.

He reminded the public that cutting, gathering and or collecting timber, or other forest products without license or permit is illegal and punishable by Law pursuant to Section 77 of Presidential Decree 705, otherwise known as the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines. (SunStar Zamboanga)