End of illegal logging hotspots nears

CEBU CITY -- Illegal logging hotspots in Central Visayas Region will be eradicated by June this year, an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Tuesday.

“The direction of the DENR is that by June 2015, illegal logging hotspots will be completely eradicated,” DENR-Central Visayas Information Officer Dr. Eddie Llamedo said.

Illegal logging hotspots exist in Tagbilaran City and Talibon in Bohol; Argao, Carmen, Lilo-an, Danao City, and Bantayan in Cebu; Dumaguete in Negros Oriental; and the island province of Siquijor, DENR records showed.

Llamedo said they have created monitoring teams, which will coordinate with the Philippine National Police, Maritime police, Philippine Coast Guard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the arrest of those involved in illegal logging activities.

Checkpoints are set along roads in Cebu and Bohol provinces to monitor transport of illegally-cut logs, he said.

Llameda, however, said the number of illegal logging hotspots in the region dwindled.

"In 2014, because of the implementation of Executive Order 23, DENR has confiscated a total of 344.3139 cubic meters amounting to P3.4 million; and in the first quarter of 2015, a total number of 44.2432 cubic meters amounting to P400,000," he added.

The DENR is now making an inventory of the accredited lumber dealer in the region. (Louise Gabrielle Romano, USJR Masscom intern/Sunnex)

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