Sacks of charcoal seized in Tuburan

AROUND 331 sacks of abandoned charcoal were seized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 in Tuburan, Cebu last week.

The confiscated sacks of charcoal, estimated to be worth P99,300, were seized in Barangays Bakyawan and Caridad in Tuburan with the help of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (Menro), local police and DENR personnel from Toledo Station on Jan. 18.

No person came forward to claim ownership of the charcoal, said DENR 7 Enforcement Division chief Ariel Rica.

Rica said that Barangays Bakyawan and Caridad are considered hot spots for illegally sourced forest products.

Rica said they are closely coordinating with the Tuburan Municipal Government and the police to stop the illegal cutting of trees in the two barangays.

Rica said that if the illegal cutting of trees continues in the area, they will issue a moratorium on the issuance of certificates of tree plantation ownership in the town.

The confiscated forest products are now under the custody of Tuburan’s MENR office, Rica said.

DENR 7 Director Gilbert Gonzales said that regular surveillance and operations are part of DENR’s campaign against environmental law violators, particularly on forestry laws, rules and regulations.

“We will work closely with the LGUs and other enforcement agency partners to step up and conduct a more aggressive campaign against these environmental violators,” Gonzales said. (JKV)