NEGROS Occidental Provincial Legal Officer Jose Maria Valencia said Tuesday, February 6, the province is doing its best to protect the Damutan Valley in Hinobaan from illegal loggers and poachers.
Valencia, chairperson of Task Force Ilahas, said the Damutan Valley is home of century-old, endemic trees like red lawaan, and animals like spotted deer, Visayan warty pig, and horn bills.
It is difficult to just simply ignore the said forest cover because it is one of the only remaining natural growth forest of the province and currently under threat from illegal loggers, he added.
Valencia said they have already identified and tapped around 30 residents from the area as forest guards who will be deputized under the Task Force Ilahas Bantay Bukid.
He also said Task Force Ilahas identified two individuals from Basay City, Negros Oriental as responsible for the illegal cutting of two century-old lawaan Trees inside the Damutan Valley.
Valencia said they are preparing charges against the two. (TDE)