CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The ongoing pandemic has failed to halt illegal lumber trade here as operatives of the regional and provincial offices of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (Penro) in Pampanga and the Philippine National Police seized 4,000 board feet of premium hardwood lumber worth over P250,000 in Angeles City.
Operatives swooped on the compound of Romar's Hardware located in Pandan village of Angeles City and owned by a certain Marita Yen, resulting in the seizure of the said contraband.
Penro head Laudemir Salac said that the operation is part of their regular inspection, monitoring and spot lumber inventory.
“And our team found out that suspicious forest products, which are banned timber hardwood species from the Philippine dipterocarp species such as Yakal, Tanguile and Lauan, were found hidden under those legitimate lumber stocks," Salac explained.
He said upon verification, the owner failed to show any legal documents or permits for keeping such lumber, and the team immediately seized the premium lumber.
"Possession of this species without necessary permit from the DENR is prohibited under forestry law," he added.
He also warned other hardware and lumber stores in the province not to attempt to store undocumented lumber or they may face the sanction of the law, and appealed to the public to report to the DENR any illegal forest activities.
The DENR-Penro Pampanga is now conducting administrative adjudication and preparing to file a criminal case against the offender for violating section 68 of the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines.
The seized lumber were temporarily stored at DENR regional office and PENRO for safekeeping.